Replicating the Nexus: Informal Livelihoods and Educational Attainment in Urban Uganda

This replication study critically re-examines the established nexus between adolescent engagement in the informal economy and educational attainment in urban Uganda. It tests the robustness of prior findings—which suggested a predominantly negative correlation—within the contemporary socio-economic context following the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study replicated a 2021 survey with a purposive sample of 480 secondary school students in Kampala and Jinja during 2022, supplemented by follow-up focus group discussions. Contrary to the original study, our analysis reveals a more nuanced relationship. While intensive informal work (>20 hours weekly) correlates with poorer academic performance and higher dropout risks, moderate, strategically timed engagement (e.g., during holidays or weekends) is associated with improved school retention and motivation, often funding essential scholastic materials. The findings challenge monolithic policy perspectives that uniformly condemn youth economic activity. Instead, they highlight the adaptive resilience of Ugandan learners and underscore the necessity for educational policies and school calendars that are responsive to urban livelihood realities. This replication affirms the critical importance of context-specific, rigorous evidence in formulating inclusive education strategies that support, rather than alienate, economically active youth in Africa.