Uber drivers strike over pay, mistreatment by company

A group of over 100 Uber drivers around Kampala have staged a protest against the firm over what they termed as low pay and mistreatment by the company.

The drivers on stormed the company’s offices in Industrial area but were not allowed to speak to the top management after being blocked by security guards who later whisked away the company’s bosses from the irate drivers.

According to the drivers, they are paid shs650 per kilometer they drive a passenger, a fee they say is very low considering what they inject into the vehicles.

“We pay for internet we use, fuel and airtime to call customers. On top of that, in the past we used to receive shs100 per minute as a fee for waiting for a customer but all this was scrapped. By the end of the day, we inject in much but get less out of being Uber drivers,” said one Kenneth Kizito.

Commissions

The Uber drivers accused the company of reaping big off their sweat yet they who work hard to make the app run are getting peanuts.

They cite an example of the 25% commission off every trip they make that they say is very exorbitant.

“If you make shs10, 000 from a trip, shs2500 will go to the company and as the driver, you will remain with shs7500 that will include money for fueling the vehicle. We have tried to speak to them so they can reduce the commission they get off our hard work but they have not heeded to our call,” said Nazareth Ntesigensi.

The drivers cited an example of rival company, Bolt, that they said charges a 15% commission which they say is fair for drivers.

“We joined the company willingly and by then, we were being referred to as partners but we have been relegated to slaves in our own country,” one of the drivers who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal told the Nile Post.

The group of drivers also accused the company administration of not hearing them out in case of complaints by clients, a thing they say is a sign of mistreatment.

“If a client forwards complaint against the driver, the company fines them (driver) without hearing from them. Many of our drivers have pending debts accruing from such fines from the company yet they are unfair.”

The drivers asked government through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to intervene in the matter but also creation of a government app that they should resort to and leave Uber.

When the Nile Post tried to access the company offices at the Square in Industrial area for a comment but the security guards could not allow journalists access the premises.

The protests come at a time when fellow Uber drivers all over the world have staged protests raising similar complaints.