Four years ago this September, SafeBoda took a bold decision to launch a car hailing service under the brand SafeCar to solve a very simple customer problem.
SafeBoda customers loved using our safe, convenient and affordable boda service to navigate through Kampala’s traffic on their way home, work and even hangouts. However, they had to rely on other platforms for group or special travel. Late night trips, travelling in groups, shopping and even being picked up or dropped off at the airport.
The market had changed a lot coming out of COVID; On one hand the car customer had a thinner budget to spend but needed to move, on the other hand the car driver was desperate for money and had the leverage. The outcome was that drivers became the price makers, asking customers to pay significantly more than what the communicated platform price. Unchecked, this led to a mass scale decay in the trust between platforms and travellers.
SafeCar entered the market to restore this trust in digital transportation offering a customer promise of “zero tolerance” to driver negotiations. This involved engaging with like minded drivers that did not just acknowledge the problem, but agreed to collaborate with us to change the status quo.
Four years later, we are starting to see the fruits of this challenging journey and we have been able to complete more than 3 million SafeCar trips and contributed to the progress of the families of over 15,000 car drivers.
But the bigger story is not the numbers. SafeCar was built by listening to Ugandans.
Setting New Standards in Car-Hailing
SafeCar introduced strict operational standards tailored specifically to local commuter needs:
- No Price Negotiation: What you see on the app is what you pay, no back-and-forth arguments.
- Affordable Everyday Pricing: Our prices reflect a fair cost of doing business.
- Zero Surge Pricing: We do not take advantage of forces of nature, prices stay the same whether it rains or there’s an event or concert.
- Safety First: Every trip is traceable and you can share this information with a friend or loved one for total peace of mind.
- 24/7 Local Support: Uganda’s only platform offering round-the-clock support, including a physical walk-in center at the SafeBoda Academy in Kyebando, Kampala.
Empowering 15,000+ Driver Partners
SafeCar is also an economic engine. The platform has onboarded over 15,000 car drivers, driving economic growth and professionalizing the local gig economy.
Before taking their first trip, every SafeCar driver completes a strict onboarding process:
- Vehicle Inspection: Guaranteeing cleanliness, safety, and comfort.
- Document Verification: Validating driving permits, insurance, and background checks.
- Professional Training: Covering app navigation, customer service, and road safety.
Built for Uganda, Built to Last
SafeCarproves that Uganda has the capacity to solve the problems that arise and even set better industry standards in not just transport but every field in which we are dedicated to transforming. We simply have to work hard at it like the little ant whose small bites eventually fell on an oak tree.
Whether heading to work, running errands, or traveling with family, SafeCar delivers a safe, fair, and reliable journey every time.
Our promise is not just to take you from point A to point B, we also promise to collaborate and solve the challenges that may arise in a manner that reflects our Ugandan-ness.
Experience the difference. Open or download the SafeBoda App on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and order a SafeCar today.
