Uber Africa Exit: Shocking Stories and Real Rider Experiences

On a typical Tuesday evening in Kampala, a visitor to Uganda opened the Uber app and requested a ride. To his surprise, the driver's wife or girlfriend, breastfeeding her baby, was in the front passenger seat. This unexpected sight was shared on X (formerly Twitter) on September 2, 2026, and highlights the unique nature of ride-hailing in Africa.

Just days later, Uber announced the closure of its operations in Nigeria and Uganda after 12 and 10 years of service, respectively. Tanzania and Ivory Coast had already lost Uber in 2026. Only Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa remain as markets for the company. Among the countless stories that defined the Uber experience in Africa, a few stand out.

Muhammad Onyango recounted his confusion when a driver he hailed for a work trip unexpectedly asked to pick up his wife. Terryanne Chebet described a bizarre detour when a driver asked her to take him to a school to pick up his child. KoffeeTungu lamented about the frustration of being forced to pay extra money to a driver who then simply switched to a different app.

Not all stories were positive, however. A Nigerian driver recounted an incident where a woman allegedly offered to "pay in kind" during a ride. Another user shared a chilling experience on TikTok where a driver's head appeared to be disturbing her during a late-night ride. The absurd was also present. A South African passenger booked an Uber for a one-metre journey just for the thrill of it.

A South African woman even tweeted that her Uber driver asked her to drive the car because he was too tired. While Uber exited Nigeria and Uganda on September 2, 2026, the company continues to operate in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.