The Fate of Yusuf Baliruno as a Freelancer
After 19 years at CBS FM, Ugandan sports presenter Yusuf Baliruno lost a labour dispute when the Industrial Court ruled he was a freelancer, not an employee, because he lacked a written contract with the radio station. His claims for over UGX 129 million in salary arrears and employment-related entitlements were dismissed, highlighting the risks faced by freelancers in Uganda’s media industry.
Media practice in Uganda is open to all. Many reputable journalists started their careers as freelancers. Freelancing has held a front seat in the media space long before the advent of technology. This article by iworku traces the history of the craft.
In the age of the gig economy, access to work through platforms like Upwork, Fiverr and Flip Africa is more promised through freelancing than traditional employment. The ease of access to freelance opportunities in the media space has created opportunities for many to pursue their passion. The media provides an opportunity to learn on the job, like news reporting, camera work, and production. With that comes the complexity of managing numbers. Media houses pay freelancers on a submission basis, unlike full-time staff.
Recently, Yusuf Baliruno (of Uganda), as he is famously known, lost a case over his work relationship with his former ‘employer.’ His fate was sealed on 7 November 2025 when the Industrial Court of Uganda dismissed his labour dispute against Central Broadcasting Services (CBS FM), ruling that he was never an employee of the Buganda-owned station and therefore could not claim employment-related remedies.
Mr Baliruno worked with CBS FM for nearly 19 years as a sports presenter and reporter. Because of his long stay, the boundary lines blurred between the employer and the freelancer. Baliruno believed that he belonged to the organisation since he had close to full access to the organisation. However, when he fell ill in 2020, he was surprised that his ‘employer’ did not come to his aid. He expected his medical bills to be paid by the radio station, only to be told otherwise. This opened up a long misunderstanding that ended up in the industrial court.
He argued that he earned a monthly salary and allowances and that his abrupt termination in 2020 left him owed more than UGX 129 million in unpaid salaries, annual leave, NSSF contributions, and other benefits. CBS, however, maintained that his long service did not amount to formal employment. They described him as an intern-turned-freelancer who was only paid per assignment or programme, without any of the entitlements associated with staff status. Unfortunate for Mr Baliruno, he had no documentation to back him up.
The Court’s task was to determine whether Baliruno was an employee, whether he was unlawfully dismissed, and whether any remedies applied. Its decisive finding was that his relationship with CBS constituted a contract for services, not a contract of service. There was no written contract of employment, his payments were irregular and labelled as facilitation or task-based allowances, and he worked with a degree of autonomy consistent with freelance rather than employee status. He received no statutory benefits such as NSSF contributions or paid leave, and the Court questioned why someone claiming to be a salaried employee would spend nearly two decades without attempting to formalise the arrangement. These findings led to the conclusion that he was not an employee and therefore could not claim rights available only to employees under Ugandan labour law. All claims, including unfair dismissal, severance, and salary arrears, were dismissed.
In sectors like the media in Uganda, where there are many freelancers, this case comes at the right time. It serves as a wake-up call for the freelancers to look out for themselves. Like Baliruno, whenever boundaries are blurred at a workplace, it is easy to assume that one is a staff member. Commercial lawyer Silver Kayondo notes that long-serving freelancers who assume they belong to a company will still be treated as independent contractors unless formal contracts exist. In his view, companies owe the freelancers clear communication on their status, clarifying in a contract clear terms of engagement and proper record-keeping to prevent future disputes.
Uganda’s labour laws protect only employees, leaving freelancers without entitlement to NSSF benefits, medical cover or leave. Yet, as media budgets dwindle, many media houses are opting more to work with freelancers as a means of managing cost. Freelancers should always remember that long-term engagement does not automatically translate into formal employment. Like Philippe Kruchten once said, “If it is not written down, it does not exist.” Without written contracts or documentation, freelancers often struggle to prove employee status and risk finding themselves unprotected, even after years of service, as in the case of Baliruno.
Human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza argues that freelancing is not inherently problematic, as everyone has the right to freelance. “However,” he warns, “it becomes risky when individuals operate without binding work contracts.”
As the gig economy grows, freelancers should learn from the Baliruno case to protect their side, as employers only care about the employees. Mr Kayondo urges freelancers to insist on proper documentation and to seek legal advice whenever changes occur in work hours, remuneration, workplace expectations, or the nature of their roles. Without such protections, the fate Baliruno faced may become the norm for many others navigating Uganda’s evolving gig economy if it is not already the case.
