Domestic workers in Uganda are mostly girls the age of 16 and above who are hired to do domestic chores in a home. They are commonly referred to as “housemaids” or “house girls”. On rare occasions old women and “house boys” are also involved in offering this kind of labour. Other categories include drivers and other workers in farms and gardens.

Since domestic workers are not regulated in Uganda, they quite often get exposed to uncontrolled, hazardous and exploitative work harmful to their health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. Nonetheless, like other workers, a domestic employee is entitled to report suspected wrongdoing to the district labour officer who will attempt to solve the matter with the employee and employer. In the case of failure, the matter can be taken to the labour commissioner.

Although some people think that domestic work is uncomplicated, it still remains real work just like other jobs. The work can be physically and psychologically challenging. This type of work demands long hours, from preparing children to go to school in the morning to finish up when all others have gone to their beds. A domestic worker brings skills and experience into the home of her employer.