It is now four years since the San-Francisco-based taxi hailing company Uber launched in sub-Sahara Africa. On Thursday, the company celebrated its fourth birthday by releasing a report detailing its customer base and partner drivers.
“Currently we have more than 29,000 driver-partners taking advantage of Uber’s earning opportunities. Drivers love being as flexible as they like; earning what they want, when they want to supplement their income,” said Alon Lits, the General Manager for Uber sub-Saharan Africa.
Commitment to our driver-partners is a key priority; ensuring they receive the latest in technological innovations means they can be at the top of their game.
Four years have gone by incredibly quickly. We’ve learnt and grown; we look back at our time in sub-Saharan Africa with pride because we’ve achieved so much and look forward to what’s next to come.”
Uber says it has also signed up some 1.8 million active riders across the continent. South Africa emerges as the leading African country with the most riders using Uber services; 969,000 active riders and 12,000 active drivers. More details in the table below:
| Country | Active Riders | Active Drivers |
| South Africa | 969,000 | 12,000 |
| Nigeria | 267,000 | 7,000 |
| Ghana | 140,000 | 3,000 |
| Kenya | 363,000 | 5,000 |
| Tanzania | 53,000 | 1,000 |
| Uganda | 48,000 | 1,000 |
The company continues to set up hubs across Africa that ensure its driver-partners are well equipped. Uber plans to three more of such hubs in Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, and Kumasi by the end of this year.
Advantages of the Uber Greenlight Hubs to the driver-partners
Uber says some of the advantages its driver-partners get from the hubs include providing drivers technical and app support. They also offer information sessions and workshop training to the drivers.
In Johannesburg, Uber recently launched the Uber Movement, a new site aimed at helping urban planners, city leaders, and the general public to better understand the transportation needs in and around the city.