KAMPALA, Sept 2 – Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc. will shut down its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria and Uganda on September 2, ending its presence in the two African markets as the US-based company restructures its global business.
The decision follows a review of Uber’s operations and business model in both countries. The company said the move is restricted to Nigeria and Uganda and will not affect its operations elsewhere across Africa.
“After a thorough review, we have taken the difficult decision to wind down operations in Nigeria and Uganda, effective September 2, 2026,” Uber said in a statement.
An Uber spokesperson said the company would continue to view sub-Saharan Africa as an important market despite the withdrawal from the two countries.
“This decision is limited strictly to these two markets and does not impact our operations across the rest of the continent,” the spokesperson said. “Uber remains deeply committed to sub-Saharan Africa, where we continue to see robust growth and long-term opportunity.”
The company said it would focus during the transition on supporting drivers, riders and employees affected by the shutdown.
The withdrawal is expected to create uncertainty for thousands of drivers who have relied on Uber’s platform for income in Nigeria and Uganda. Drivers in both markets have already faced rising operating costs, including higher fuel prices and vehicle maintenance expenses, while disputes over platform commissions have contributed to protests and pushed some operators towards competing ride-hailing platforms.
Uber’s decision comes alongside a wider restructuring of the company. The group is planning to cut approximately 3,300 positions, equivalent to about 10% of its global workforce, as it seeks to simplify its organisational structure and redirect resources towards its core businesses.
Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi has pointed to organisational complexity created during Uber’s rapid expansion as one factor behind the restructuring. In an internal email reported by Bloomberg News, Khosrowshahi said the company’s growth had resulted in “more layers, more coordination, more fragmented ownership, and in some cases structures that made sense when businesses were smaller but no longer serve us well at our current scale”.
The restructuring is expected to streamline management and allow Uber to concentrate capital and resources on areas including ride-hailing, delivery and autonomous driving technology.
For Nigeria and Uganda, the exit marks a significant change in two of Africa’s established digital mobility markets. Uber’s departure is likely to intensify competition among remaining ride-hailing platforms while creating opportunities for rivals to absorb drivers and customers displaced by the shutdown.
The company has not indicated that it intends to withdraw from its other African markets. Its continued presence elsewhere on the continent suggests that Uber’s decision is being driven by market-specific considerations in Nigeria and Uganda rather than a broader retreat from Africa.
