Human resource professionals in Uganda are being challenged to welcome Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their workplaces as a tool for boosting efficiency, while making sure the technology supports employees rather than pushing them aside.

A call for balance

Catherine Bitarakwate, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, made the appeal during the 3rd Human Resource Managers Conference, which took place at the Serena Hotel in Kampala. She told attendees that organisations can gain a great deal from AI, particularly in the areas of service delivery, accuracy and access to information, but only if the technology is handled with care.

Bitarakwate cautioned that leaning too heavily on technology could deepen Uganda's already serious youth unemployment problem, especially if employers treat AI mainly as a way to cut human labour. She stressed that machines cannot replicate human emotions and are not always fully accurate, so they should not be allowed to take over roles that people are better placed to perform.

Ethics at the centre

The Permanent Secretary urged HR practitioners to take the lead in shaping how new technologies are introduced, insisting that ethical considerations, accountability and respect for employees must guide every decision. In her view, organisations need clear policies that encourage responsible use of AI while protecting workers' rights, personal information and professional dignity.

Her remarks come at a time when workplaces across Africa and beyond are grappling with how quickly AI tools are spreading, from recruitment software to performance tracking systems. For many employees, the fear is not the technology itself but the possibility that it will be used to justify layoffs or to erode the value of human judgement on the job.

Push for a new law

Paul Rugambwa, president of the Human Resource Managers Association, updated the gathering on the association's long-running campaign to secure the enactment of the Human Resource Professionals Bill. He said engagements with Parliament and the Ministry of Public Service are continuing, with the aim of giving the profession a stronger legal footing.

The conference underlined a growing consensus among HR leaders that technology and people can thrive side by side, provided the transition is managed fairly. As Ugandan organisations move deeper into the digital age, the message from Kampala was clear: efficiency matters, but so does the workforce behind it.