Uber exits Nigeria and Uganda as ride-hailing company reshapes its African footprint

LAGOS, Nigeria / KAMPALA, Uganda — September 3, 2026 — Uber has officially ended its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria and Uganda, effective September 2, 2026, marking a significant shift in the company’s presence in Africa’s urban mobility market.

The decision follows a review of Uber’s business priorities and investment strategy across the continent. The company said the move is limited to the two markets and does not affect its operations elsewhere in Africa.

Twelve years in Nigeria come to an end

Uber entered Nigeria in 2014, beginning its operations in Lagos before expanding to other cities, including Abuja.

After 12 years in the country, the company has now discontinued its ride-hailing services. Uber has not disclosed the exact number of drivers or riders affected by the decision.

The company’s customer support services will remain available for a limited period to help users resolve outstanding account-related issues.

Uganda also loses Uber after a decade

In Uganda, Uber launched its services in Kampala in 2016. Its withdrawal on September 2 brings nearly a decade of operations in the country to an end.

The decision creates a significant change in Uganda’s urban mobility landscape, particularly for drivers and passengers who relied on the platform for daily transportation.

Other ride-hailing platforms are expected to compete for the users and drivers left behind by Uber.

Competition and operating costs reshape ride-hailing

Uber’s withdrawal comes as ride-hailing platforms across Africa face increasingly challenging operating conditions.

In Nigeria, rising fuel prices, inflation and currency volatility have increased operating costs for both drivers and mobility platforms. At the same time, competition has intensified, with several local and international companies competing for passengers and drivers.

These pressures are forcing mobility companies to reassess the markets in which they can achieve sufficient scale and profitability.

A broader corporate restructuring

The African exits come at the same time as Uber is undertaking a major global restructuring.

The company announced plans to cut around 3,300 jobs, representing roughly 10% of its global workforce. The restructuring is intended to simplify the company’s organisational structure and redirect resources towards areas considered strategically important for future growth.

One of the main priorities is autonomous mobility, with Uber planning significant investments in self-driving technology and robotaxi partnerships.

Uber remains in key African markets

Despite leaving Nigeria and Uganda, Uber says it remains committed to Sub-Saharan Africa.

The company continues to operate in markets including Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, according to recent reports.

The withdrawal therefore represents a targeted reorganisation of Uber’s African footprint rather than a complete departure from the continent.

A changing African urban mobility market

Uber’s exit from two major African markets highlights the growing pressure on international mobility platforms to achieve operational scale while keeping services affordable for passengers and economically viable for drivers.

For African cities, the development also illustrates the rapid evolution of the digital mobility sector, where competition between international platforms and local operators is reshaping how passengers and drivers access urban transport services.

For logistics and mobility stakeholders, Uber’s decision underlines a broader trend: the future of African urban mobility will increasingly depend on operational efficiency, market scale, cost control and the ability of platforms to adapt to local economic conditions.