Patrick Bitature

Patrick Bitature
Born	May 10, 1960 Fort Portal, Uganda
Residence	Kampala, Uganda
Nationality	Ugandan
Citizenship	Uganda
Alma mater	Namasagali College (East African Certificate of Education) Nyakasura School (East African Advanced Certificate of Education) Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries &Administrators) United Graduate College and Seminary International (Honorary Doctorate)
Occupation	chairman Umeme Electromaxx Uganda Private Sector Foundation Uganda
Years active	1990s – present
Known for	Investments, Business
Home town	Fort Portal
Net worth	US$100 million (2012)[1]
Title	Dr.
Religion	Catholic

Patrick Bitature is a Ugandan businessman and entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of the Simba Group of Companies, an East African conglomerate, with interests in telecoms, energy production, mining, media, real estate, travel, and leisure and co-ownwer of Protea Hotels.^[2] He is reported to be one of the wealthiest individuals in Uganda.

Early life

Bitature was born in 1960 (date?) in Fort Portal, Kabarole District in the Western Region of Uganda. He was the first born in a middle-class family, where the father worked in the East African Community. When he was 13 years old, his father was murdered during the Idi Amin regime. He then became the bread winner, trading in sugar, clothing, shoes, and foreign currencies. Later, he expanded into mobile telephones and mobile airtime distribution.^[3]

Education

Bitature attended Namasagali College in Kamuli District for his O-Level education. While there, he was mentored by Father Damien Grimes. He later attended Nyakasura School in Fort Portal, Kabarole District for his A-Level education. He then studied at the London School of Accountancy in the United Kingdom. He then joined the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. He currently holds the rank of Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.^[4] In 2013, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the United Graduate College and Seminary International, based in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.^[5]

Career

In 1998, Bitature started a company that he named Simba Telecom Limited. The company became a franchisee of MTN Uganda, which had just opened in the country. Simba Telecom has grown into the largest seller of MTN airtime in Uganda, with gross sales in excess of US$80 million in 2010.^[6]

Over the years, he has formed other companies, to form the Simba Group of Companies, with subsidiaries in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Some of the companies in the group include the following:

1. Simba Telecoms Limited^[7]
2. Kampala Protea Hotel^[8]
3. Eletromaxx Limited – Owner-operator of 70MW Tororo Power Station^[9]
4. Simba Mining Limited^[10]
5. Simba Dairy Farm^[11]
6. Tororo Solar Power Station^[12]

Other responsibilities

• He is the chairman of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, which is an umbrella body composed of private sector enterprises and offering lobbying advocacy and training for its members. He was appointed to that position in 2014.^[13]
• Since 2007, he has been the chairman of the board of directors of Umeme, the largest electric energy distributor in Uganda. The shares of stock of Umeme are listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange and are cross listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange Limited.^[14]
• Since 2009, he has been the chairman of Ndege Premier Aviation Company, a private air charter and earoplane management company, based at Kajjansi Airport.^[15]
• He has been a member of the board of directors of the Commonwealth Business Council since August 2013.^[16]
• Since October 2007, he has been a member of Traidlinks Limited and a director of the Ugandan chapter. Traidlinks is an Irish, non-profit organisation focused on improving the productivity of SMEs and promotes the growth of Public-Private Partnerships.^[16]
• Since July 2011, he has been a shareholder and board member of Wanainchi Group Holdings Limited, operating in Uganda as ZUKU Satellite Pay TV Uganda.^[17]
• Since December 2010, he has served as the Honorary Consul of Australia in Uganda.^[18]
• Since March 2013, he has served as the patron of the Australian Alumni Association Uganda.^[19][20]

Philanthropy

Some of the philanthropic activities that he is involved in include the following:

• He is the founder of the Patrick & Carol Bitature Foundation, a charity organisation focusing on education and life-saving health care initiatives. It was established in December 2010 with the main objective of providing education and healthcare to disadvantaged youth in the community.^[16]
• The Makerere University Business School Entrepreneurship Club initiated the Patrick Bitature Entrepreneurship Competition to nurture young talent through competition. The award supports and finances start up enterprises.^[16]
• He has been the chairman of the Nyakasura School Alumni Association since 2010. He is the largest contributor towards re-development of the school's infrastructure.^[16]
• Since May 2010, he has served as the chairman of CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda, a paediatric neurosurgical hospital in Mbale in the Eastern Region of Uganda.^[16][21][22]
• Since June 2005, he has served as a board member of the Uganda chapter of the Youth Business Trust. Prince Charles is the organisation's Patron.^[17]

Personal life

Bitature is married and has four children.^[16]

See also

• Umeme
• List of wealthiest people in Uganda
• Uganda Investment Authority
• Protea Hotels

References

1. Michael Kanaabi, and Ssebidde Kiryowa (6 January 2012). "The Deepest Pockets". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 25 December 2014.
2. "About Simba Group of Companies". Simba-Group.Com. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
3. Ladu, Ismail Musa (18 November 2010). "Rising Above The Hurdles on the Growth Path". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
4. Administrator, . (11 March 2013). "Exclusive Interview With Patrick Bitature, Chairman Simba Group". The Promota Magazine (London). Retrieved 23 December 2014.
5. Ndawula, Robert (10 December 2013). "Brilliance Honor". The Investigator (Uganda). Retrieved 25 December 2014.
6. Simba Telecom, . (2011). "Profile of Simba Telecom Limited". Simbatelecom.com. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
7. Mutenza, W. (10 September 2013). "Mr. Patrick Bitature, CEO Simba Group Keynote Speaker at the UK Convention – 14th September 2013". Ugandanconventionuk.org. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
8. Odyek, John (23 January 2014). "US Hotel Giant, Marriott, Takes Over Protea Hotel Group". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 23 December 2014.
9. Kasita, Ibrahim (28 November 2012). "Electro-Maxx Switches on US$60 Million Power Plant". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 23 December 2014.
10. Turyakira, Fred (23 October 2013). "Gold Mining Starts in Ibanda District". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 23 December 2014.
11. Ladu, Ismail Musa (21 January 2014). "Bitature 'Milks' Cash From High-Breed Animals". Daily Monitor (Kampala).
12. Tentena, Paul (11 January 2015). "Italians Win Uganda Solar Energy Project". East African Business Week. Kampala. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
13. Nandudu, Prossy (16 December 2014). "Bitature Assures Investors on Market for Produce". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 23 December 2014.
14. "UMEME Board of Directors". Umeme. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
15. Vision, Reporter (20 April 2010). "Patrick Bitature Named New Airline Boss". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 23 December 2014.
16. "Profile of Patrick Bitature, Founder, Chairman & Group CEO Simba Group of Companies". University of Nairobi. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
17. Wananchi, . "The Board of Directors, Wananchi Group: Patrick Bitature – Owner, Simba Group". Wananchi Group. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
18. Wafula, Walter (19 August 2011). "Australian Mining Firms Eye Uganda". Daily Monitor Mobile. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
19. AAAU, . "About the Australia Alumni Association of Uganda". Australia Alumni Association Uganda. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
20. AHCK, . (23 March 2014). "Uganda Australia Alumni Association AGM And Cocktail Party, Kampala, 23 March 2014". Australian High Commission Kenya. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
21. Okuda, Ivan (13 December 2012). "Millions Raised in Child Health Charity Drive". Daily Monitor Mobile (Kampala). Retrieved 25 December 2014.
22. Edyegu, Daniel (4 April 2013). "Bugisu: Beyond Mount Elgon And Male Circumcision". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 25 December 2014.

External links

• Patrick Bitature’s MUBS Graduation Keynote, 31 May 2013
• Oil: How Museveni Hired Bitature To Nail Tullow