In a sudden and massive shift for East Africa's digital transport landscape, global ride-hailing pioneer Uber has officially wound down all operations in Uganda. 

The company rolled out notifications to local drivers, riders, and corporate partners confirming that its app ceased accepting ride requests effective September 2, 2026. The decision concludes a decade-long run in Kampala, where Uber first launched in June 2016 and helped revolutionize urban mobility from cash-reliant special-hire taxis into a competitive, app-driven marketplace.

According to official electronic communications distributed by the San Francisco-based company, the exit follows an intensive structural and commercial evaluation. Uber stated that after a thorough review of its business, it made the tough decision to wind down operations in Uganda. The pullout coincides with a strategic pivot orchestrated by Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. This corporate overhaul aims to eliminate approximately 10% of Uber’s global workforce, roughly 3,300 corporate jobs, and trim management layers so that the resulting capital savings can be heavily redirected toward core profitable regions, updated driver incentives, and emerging autonomous mobility innovation.

Uganda was not the only market impacted by this restructuring, as Uber simultaneously deactivated its platform in Nigeria on September 2, citing identical continent-wide shifts in investment priorities. This double exit marks a rapid contraction of Uber's presence across the African continent. 

Following its previous departures from Tanzania and Côte d'Ivoire, Uber is now actively running in just a handful of remaining African countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, and Morocco. Uber explicitly noted that this shutdown is strictly isolated to the Ugandan and Nigerian boundaries and will not degrade services in its other operational African territories.

For riders and drivers with unresolved questions, account balances, or transition concerns, Uber has pledged temporary support, noting that the company's in-app Help Center will remain active and staffed for a 21-day transition window closing on September 23, 2026. Despite the high-profile departure, industry experts emphasize that Kampala's ride-hailing sector remains robust. 

The void left behind by Uber is already being entirely absorbed by active competitors, meaning commuters can seamlessly transition to prominent alternative transport networks still operating on the ground. Among these options are SafeBoda, the locally dominant platform that supports over 20,000 drivers across Kampala offering car rides, motorcycle transit, and delivery solutions; Bolt, the European-based multi-mobility app that stands as the premier international alternative for hailing cars and motorbikes in the capital; and Faras, a rapidly growing regional digital transit network providing reliable car and motorcycle alternatives locally.