Uber eyes Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda

Taxi hailing app Uber has expressed interest in expanding its services to more African markets, specifically Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda. Alon Lits, Uber’s General Manager for sub-Saharan Africa said the company will be focusing on convincing taxi drivers in the various African countries to work for it.

In Africa, Uber is struggling with numerous challenges including heavy traffic, urban crime and low credit card penetration. In spite of the challenges, Uber is operating in seven cities in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.

Just as it is dealing with outside Africa, Uber continues to contend with opposition from traditional taxi drivers who see Uber as a threat to their businesses. In Nairobi for instance, an Uber driver was attacked and his car torched last month after the government rejected calls by Kenya’s taxi association to ban Uber.

“Part of our strategy when we launch in new markets will be that engagement up-front with taxi operators,” Lits told Reuters in an interview in Nairobi. “We will be doing a better job of engaging.”

Lits announced that Uber will set up East and West Africa hubs in Nairobi and Lagos. The hubs will serve as launchpads for forays into Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana, and would begin operating in a second city each in Nigeria and Kenya.

“We feel we are at a point now where we have a strong sense for what it takes to build a successful Uber business in Africa,” Lits said.