Smart Ride Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of Smart Ride, including customers (riders), driver-partners, merchants, pharmacy partners, and any other individuals who interact with our platform.

Smart Ride is a Ugandan ride-hailing and services super-app that connects customers with transportation and on-demand services including food delivery, shopping, parcel delivery, health & pharmacy, and wallet services.

We are committed to handling your personal information in accordance with the Uganda Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, and applicable international privacy standards.

We collect information that you provide directly to us and information collected automatically when you use Smart Ride.

A. Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Profile photograph (optional)
• Account credentials (securely hashed)
• Emergency contact information (if provided)

B. Location Data

To provide ride-hailing and delivery services, we collect:

• Precise GPS location (during active rides/orders)
• Pickup and drop-off locations
• Saved addresses
• Real-time route information
• Approximate location when the app is in the foreground

C. Payment Information

To process payments, we collect:

• Mobile money account details (MTN MoMo, Airtel Money)
• Nylon Pay wallet identifiers
• Card information (processed by our payment partners; we do not store full card numbers)
• Wallet top-up and withdrawal history
• Transaction records and receipts

D. Device Information

We automatically collect:

• Device model and operating system
• App version
• Device identifiers
• IP address
• Network information (Wi-Fi, mobile data)
• Crash reports and diagnostic logs

E. Usage Data

We collect information about how you use Smart Ride:

• Ride and order history
• Search queries and viewed items
• App interactions and taps
• Ratings and reviews submitted
• In-app chat messages with drivers, merchants, and support
• Customer support communications

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide ride-hailing, delivery, shopping, pharmacy, and wallet services
• Match customers with nearby drivers and service providers
• Calculate routes, fares, and delivery fees
• Process payments and issue receipts through MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, Nylon Pay, and cards
• Verify identities and prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access
• Ensure safety through features like SOS, live location sharing, and trip monitoring
• Provide customer support and resolve disputes
• Send service-related notifications (ride updates, order status, OTPs)
• Send marketing and promotional communications (with your consent)
• Improve our services, develop new features, and conduct analytics
• Comply with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations in Uganda

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in the following circumstances:

A. Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers that help operate Smart Ride:

• Payment processors: Nylon Pay, MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, Flutterwave (cards)
• Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers
• Mapping and navigation providers (Mapbox)
• Authentication providers (Google, Apple Sign-In)
• Push notification and messaging providers (Firebase)
• Analytics providers

B. With Drivers, Merchants & Service Partners

To complete services, we share the minimum information necessary:

• Your name and contact details with the assigned driver or merchant
• Pickup and drop-off locations
• Order details and special instructions
• Payment confirmation (not full payment details)

C. Legal Compliance

We may disclose information when required by:

• Law, regulation, or court order
• Requests from Ugandan law enforcement or government authorities
• Subpoenas, search warrants, or other legal process
• Tax authority requirements (Uganda Revenue Authority)

D. Safety & Protection

We may share information to:

• Protect the safety, rights, or property of Smart Ride users
• Investigate fraud, abuse, or violations of our Terms
• Respond to emergencies or SOS alerts
• Prevent harm to the public

E. Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, user information may be transferred as a business asset. We will notify you before your information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

Despite our safeguards, no system is 100% secure. If a data breach occurs, we will notify affected users and the relevant authorities in accordance with Ugandan law.

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active, and thereafter as needed to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

• Account data: retained while your account is active
• Transaction records: retained for 7 years per Uganda tax law
• Ride and delivery history: retained for 7 years for tax and audit purposes
• Customer support records: retained for 3 years
• Device and usage logs: retained for up to 24 months
• Marketing consent records: retained until you withdraw consent

When data is no longer needed, we delete it or anonymize it so it can no longer be associated with you. See our Account Deletion Policy for details.

Under the Uganda Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and personal data (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Data Export: Receive an export of your personal data in a portable format
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time
• Object: Object to processing of your data for specific purposes
• Complain: Lodge a complaint with the Uganda Personal Data Protection Office

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@smartride.ug. We will respond within 30 days.

Smart Ride uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website to:

• Keep you logged in during your session
• Remember your preferences (language, theme)
• Analyze website traffic and usage patterns
• Improve website performance and features
• Serve relevant marketing content (with your consent)

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some website functionality. The mobile app uses anonymous device identifiers for analytics and fraud prevention, which you can manage in your device settings.

Users between 13 and 18 may use Smart Ride only with the involvement of a parent or legal guardian. Driver-partners and merchants must be at least 18 years old.

If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us at support@smartride.ug and we will promptly delete it.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors.

We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on this page and updating the “Last Updated” date. For significant changes, we may also send a notification through the app or via email.

Continued use of Smart Ride after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact our Data Protection Officer: