A London Uber driver who says delays in renewing his private hire licence left him thousands of pounds in debt and facing the threat of eviction has launched a legal challenge against Transport for London (TfL).
Julius Mugabo, 55, has been licensed by TfL since 2016 and had worked as an Uber driver without previous problems. However, his latest licence renewal was repeatedly delayed after he submitted his application late last year.
Mugabo said TfL repeatedly requested supporting documents that he believed he had already provided. His licence expired at the end of March 2026, leaving him unable to legally continue working while he waited for the renewal.
According to Mugabo, the loss of income had serious consequences for his family. He said he accumulated debts, struggled to pay rent and faced the possibility of losing his home. A £3,000 tax bill owed to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) also increased to about £20,000 because of interest.
“I was under so much stress and pressure,” Mugabo said, adding that his landlord had threatened to evict his family because he struggled to pay the rent.
The legal action is being supported by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which represents private hire drivers working through platforms such as Uber and Bolt. The union says many of its members have experienced similar delays, with some falling into debt, losing their cars or facing eviction.
There are around 100,000 private hire drivers operating in London. Freedom of Information data obtained by the Conservatives indicates that almost 18,000 drivers have received goodwill payments of between £300 and £500 because of licence renewal delays.
Ahmed Aydeed, a solicitor representing Mugabo, accused TfL of putting drivers’ livelihoods at risk by failing to renew licences before existing ones expire. He said drivers who continue working without a valid licence could face criminal prosecution.
The High Court challenge alleges that TfL breached its legal duties by failing to process private hire licence renewals on time. Mr Justice Sweeting has granted Mugabo a full judicial review hearing, saying the delay had caused “immediate and serious consequences” for him and his family.
Mugabo, who has now received his renewed licence, said he was pursuing the case not only because of his own experience but to help other drivers affected by the delays.
