Uber announces layoffs of 3,300 employees and exits Nigeria and Uganda

Uber has announced that it is laying off 3,300 employees, representing 10 percent of its workforce, and ceasing operations in Nigeria and Uganda. The job cuts, announced on September 2, 2026, mark the largest reduction in the company's headcount since the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated in a memo to employees that the cuts are aimed at reducing layers of management and simplifying team structures as the company aims to build an autonomous future and invest more in drivers, couriers, and merchants. Uber confirmed that it has exited Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect, stating that this decision is limited to these two markets and does not impact operations across the rest of Africa. A company spokesperson emphasized the commitment to supporting drivers, riders, and local team members during this transition. Khosrowshahi also mentioned plans to halve the number of 'micro-teams' to create a leaner organization that allows for clearer ownership and faster decision-making. He indicated that most employees would be expected to return to the office, with only about 1% of employees expected to work remotely going forward. This round of layoffs follows a previous cut of 10 percent of customer service roles as the company embraced artificial intelligence. Despite these layoffs, Uber reported an 18 percent revenue increase from 2024 to 2025, totaling $52 billion, and a 12 percent revenue increase in the second quarter of 2026 to $14.2 billion. However, Uber's stock has struggled this year, down 8 percent overall, though it rose by more than 1.6 percent in midday trading on the day of the announcement. According to Layoffs.fyi, over 128,000 employees have been laid off across nearly 290 companies in the tech sector in 2026 alone.