Glovo Uganda has launched a new safety feature on the riders’ app.
The new in-app feature, described as a telematics-based safety tool, scores riders based on their riding behaviour and provides insights intended to encourage safer practices while on the road.
Speaking during the launch, Brendon Njoroge, Head of Operations at Glovo Uganda, said the initiative forms part of the company’s broader commitment to improving rider welfare through training and capacity building.
“So today is a big day for us. We are doing two major things.One is launching our rider safety feature, which is basically an in-app solution that scores riders based on their riding habits. This encourages them to adopt better riding habits so that we can prevent accidents,” he said.
Alongside the launch of the safety feature, the company also conducted rider safety training sessions facilitated by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). The sessions focused on road usage, traffic awareness, pedestrian safety, and understanding traffic regulations.
According to Njoroge, road safety remains a critical issue for delivery riders because they spend long hours on the road making deliveries across the city.
“Road safety is extremely important to these riders because they use the roads literally every second. We are delivering thousands of orders every minute, and they are heavy road users,” he said.
He noted that the company has recorded incidents involving rider accidents in the past, although he emphasized that the new initiative is preventive rather than a response to a major crisis.
“We’ve had some instances, yes, but even if the number is not high, we still want to reduce it further,” he said.
Njoroge explained that the scoring system will not affect riders’ earnings or operational performance metrics. Instead, the information collected will be used to identify riders who may require additional support and targeted safety training.
“Riders who consistently score low will receive tailored training to help them understand why they are scoring low and how they can improve their riding habits,” he said, adding that the company may also introduce incentives and rewards for riders who improve their scores.
The company also used the event to highlight broader concerns around youth unemployment and the growing reliance on the boda boda and delivery sector as a source of income for young Ugandans.
According to Njoroge, most riders working with the platform fall within the 22 to 26 age bracket, with many using delivery work as a temporary source of income while pursuing long-term career goals.
“We have people here with degrees and very good academic papers. However, as they wait to get their dream jobs, they still need a way to earn a living,” he said.
Njoroge further called on government agencies and other stakeholders to partner with private sector players in strengthening road safety initiatives and formalising the boda boda sector.
“It’s a 360-degree ecosystem,” he said. “We are especially calling on government entities to help us with capacity building. Companies like Glovo help formalize this sector, and partnerships can help bridge existing gaps in road safety awareness and training.”
The launch comes amid increasing focus on road safety in Kampala, particularly among commercial motorcycle riders who remain among the most active road users in the city.
The Manager in charge of Traffic Management and Control at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Eng. Joel Wasswa hailed the new safety app for helping in improving road safety.
“I think it is very timely and very good for us, especially in terms of capturing real-time data on how people move and identifying areas where people are most prone to accidents, especially motorcycle riders. Glovo is able to capture real-time accidents happening, and that can also help with emergency response. From the side of KCCA, this information can help us determine how we can intervene to ensure people are safe and what infrastructure needs to be put in place in accident hotspots and high-risk areas,” Eng. Wasswa said.
