On June 2, UBER- an American multinational online transportation network company with it's head quarters in San Francisco, California opened it's doors in Kampala, Uganda. Users and drivers will sign up for the service that connects you to a ride/driver within your area.

Highlights

• Rate Per Km UGX900
• Cancellation fee UGX 5000
• Minimum fare UGX 5000
• FREE rides up to June 5. 2016
• Earn extra money by being a UBER driver

You can also make some extra money when you feel like driving..You drive when you want to and go to locations that you choose. Similarly, a passenger who wants to use the service will request the app, enter destination, driver info including name, photo, license plate number, make and model will show up so you know the car that you are hopping onto way in advance. No need to pay as your credit card will be charged.

Special Hire drivers like we call them here can easily join the service as they already have the requirements that one needs to be a UBER driver. A driving license is a must have, 3rd party, vehicle license which are pretty obvious for an average car owner, criminal record, badge and KCCA Permit are the other requirements.

Clear pictures of the above have to be uploaded on to the UBER site. Once your account has been set up, you can add other drivers onto your account by clearly filling in their details.

As part of the launch, UBER is providing 6 free rides within Kampala this weekend. The promotion that started on Thursday 2 June ends Sunday 5 June 2016. To unlock your free rides, simply download the app to your SMART phone and sign up with the code MOVEUGANDA and there you will gain access to six trips of not more than shillings 20,000/- 

We tried finding out what an 80km journey from Kampala to Jinja would cost and the range was between Shs78,000/- and 103,500/- This service does not necessarily replace the other options that are already in place but it's more of a widened scope and could actually be less costly as you are getting a driver within your circle.

"We’re really excited to be launching Uber in Kampala, a world-class African city. We are inspired by the city’s rapidly developing infrastructure and spirit of entrepreneurship and look forward to giving people in the city an affordable, easy and flexible choice to move around the city safely and reliably," Alon Lits, the Uber Sub-Saharan Africa General Manager noted.

Uber is now in 12 cities in Africa with Kampala inclusive. Other cities include Johannesburg, Durban, Nairobi, Casablanca, Lagos, Mombasa, Cairo, Capetown, Abuja, Alexandria and Port Elizabeth.