Post-COVID Uganda has seen wide participation in the gig economy, with nearly everyone taking on a “Kicuba” (side hustle) at some point to make ends meet. But these gigs often spill into personal time, blurring the lines between work and life. Why is this happening, and is there hope for a healthier balance?
One, to better understand this we need to know why the hustle often takes over.
Hustle culture is based on the idea that you must always be working to succeed. For many Ugandans however, this mindset isn’t just about ambition; it’s survival. With living costs soaring and wages lagging, a single job often falls short of meeting family needs. This has led to a culture where people juggle multiple jobs and side gigs to make ends meet because they have to. Whether it’s school fees, rent, or the weekly trip to the market, the bills don’t stop, and side gigs are often the only way to fill the gaps.
Moreover, many Ugandans equate success with constant busyness. Being busy is often seen as a measure of achievement. It’s almost an unspoken rule: if you’re not busy, you’re not serious. This relentless pressure to stay productive makes rest feel like an unattainable luxury.
Technology has also made it harder to separate work from home time. With smartphones and the internet, work is no longer confined to the office. Clients call at odd hours, emails disrupt dinner, and the pressure to respond immediately makes it nearly impossible to “switch off.” The gig economy further exacerbates this, as freelancers and part-timers often work without defined schedules, making boundaries even harder to enforce.
The hustle doesn’t come cheap. It takes away personal time, strains family commitments, and impacts health. Nights that could be spent unwinding with loved ones are often swallowed by deadlines and late-night shifts. Weekends meant for rest turn into opportunities for extra income and at first it feels manageable. You think, “Let me just push a little harder this month, things will get better.” But over time, this constant grind becomes the norm, and the line between work and life fades away.
You lose yourself in the grind. Some people don’t even remember when they last had some fun. Burnout creeps in, even the things you once loved begin to feel like a chore. Your relationships too suffer. Have you ever tried explaining to a friend or partner that you can’t make it to dinner because you’re “too busy”? After a while, those excuses start to wear thin, and the people you care about feel neglected.
Can you balance work and life in Uganda? That largely depends on your place in the hierarchy. The reality is, for the average Ugandan, achieving this balance is often beyond their control and hinges on the nature of their job or their role within it.
Setting non-negotiable boundaries can help, like informing clients of specific working hours or deciding not to be available at certain times. However, for someone juggling a day job and a side gig, this is harder—when one job ends, the other takes over. Furthermore, many Ugandans work in labour-intensive, task-based fields. If there’s an order for 12 cartons of a product today, those 12 cartons must be completed, making it nearly impossible to set boundaries due to unpredictable demands.
Additionally, many gigs operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with efficiency and personal ranking playing a key role. As a result, many workers arrive early at construction sites, overworking themselves to boost their productivity and demonstrate their value, hoping to secure employment for the next day.
Learn to Say No. This can be difficult, especially when extra work translates to extra income. However, overloading yourself means you’ll eventually burn out, which isn’t good for anyone. Choose your gigs wisely and remember: not every opportunity is worth your time.
Plan for Personal Time. I was once told, “If you don’t schedule a break, your body will take one for you…” Whether it’s a movie night with family, a weekend routine you want to start or just some time for self-care, block it off like it’s a meeting or an appointment.
All in all, Uganda’s hustle culture isn’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it consume your life.
Yes, it’s hard to turn down extra work when money is tight. And yes, setting boundaries can feel awkward at first. But always remember: the grind is meant to improve your life, not leave you too drained to enjoy the life you’re working so hard to build.
