Patrick Bitature is a

Ugandan }), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The southe ...

businessman, entrepreneur and author. He is believed to be the second wealthiest Ugandan after

Sudhir Ruparelia Sudhir Ruparelia (born 17 January 1956) is a Ugandan business magnate and investor of Indian origin. He is the chairman and majority shareholder in the companies of the Ruparelia Group. His investments are mainly in the areas of banking, insuran ...

. He is the founder, chairman and Group CEO of the Simba Group of Companies which is primarily based in East Africa. The Simba Group of Companies started in 1998 with the flagship telecom business but has since grown to a conglomerate of East Africa-based companies spanning telecoms, properties, power generation, agro-business, mining, tourism and media. At end 2011 the Group employed over 600 direct staff and - 1500 indirect staff. He has received several board appointments in various companies, businesses and foundations in Uganda. Most notable among these appointments include Umeme Uganda Limited, Bolloré Logistics Uganda as well as

Mulago National Referral Hospital Mulago National Specialised Hospital, also known as Mulago National Referral Hospital, is a component of Mulago Hospital Complex, the teaching facility of Makerere University College of Health Sciences. It is the largest public hospital in ...

Early life

Bitature was born 10 May 1960 in Fort Portal, Kabarole District in the Western Region of Uganda. He was the first born in a middle-class family. When he was 13 years old, his father was murdered during the

Idi Amin Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern w ...

regime. He then became the breadwinner, trading in sugar, clothing, shoes, and foreign currencies. Later, he expanded into mobile telephones and mobile airtime distribution.

Education

Bitature attended Namasagali College in Kamuli District for his O-Level education. While there, he was mentored by Fr. Damien Grimes. He later attended

Nyakasura School Nyakasura School is a mixed, boarding, middle, and high school in Fort Portal, Kabarole District, Western Region of Uganda. Location The school is located in Nyakasura, off the Fort Portal-Bundibugyo Road, approximately , by road, north-west of ...

in Fort Portal, Kabarole District for his

A-Level The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...

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 holds the rank of fellow of the institute. In 2013, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the United Graduate College and Seminary International, based in Asheville, North Carolina.

Career

In 1998, Bitature started a company that he named Simba Telecom Limited. The company became a franchisee of

MTN Uganda MTN Uganda is the largest telecom company in Uganda, with 11.2 million subscribers, accounting for 55 percent market share, as of 30 June 2017. By 31 December 2019, its customer base had increased to 12.6 million customers. In March 2021, the U ...

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

Kampala Protea Hotel The Kampala Protea Hotel is a hotel in Kampala, Uganda. Location The hotel is located on Elgon Terrace, off of Acacia Avenue, on Kololo Hill, in the Kampala Central Division. Overview The establishment, founded in 2007, is a member of the Sout ...

* Eletromaxx Limited – Owner-operator of the 70 megawatt

Tororo Thermal Power Station Tororo Thermal Power Station is a heavy fuel oil-fired thermal power plant located in the town of Tororo in Tororo District in the Eastern Region, Uganda, Eastern Region of Uganda. Location The power station is located in Tororo, approximately ...

# Simba Mining Limited * Simba Dairy Farm *

Tororo Solar Power Station Tororo Solar Power Station, also Tororo Solar North Power Station, is a solar power plant in Uganda, the third-largest economy in the East African Community. Location The power station is located in Tororo District, approximately , by road, ...

* Protea Hotel Kampala Marriott Skyz

Other responsibilities

In October 2021, Bolloré transport & logistics appointed Patrick Bitature as new chairman in Uganda. In September 2021, Bitature was appointed a member of the board for the Mulago National Referral Hospital. In September 2021, Bitature was appointed chancellor of Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU), a private university based in Kampala, Uganda's capital city. His term began on 17 September 2021 and runs until 16 September 2025. Bitature replaced Dr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, the former Vice President of Kenya, who served as the founding chancellor of the university for two consecutive terms, from 2013 until 2021. He was appointed in October 2020 by Minister of Health to the Board of Directors of Malaria Free Uganda, a Private Public Initiative by the Government of Uganda under Ministry of Health which mainly advocates ,Raises resources and action for Malaria elimination in Uganda by 2030. He was appointed as the chairman of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda in 2014, which is an umbrella body composed of private sector enterprises and offering lobbying advocacy and training for its members. He has since stepped down from the position. In September 2013 stepped down as Chairman Board of Directors, Uganda Investment Authority (UIA). He held this position from March 2007 Since 2007, he has been the chairman of the board of directors of

Umeme Umeme Limited is the largest energy distributor in Uganda, distributing about 97 percent of all electricity used in the country. The shares of the stock of the company are listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) and are cross listed on ...

, the largest electric energy distributor in Uganda. Since 2009, he has been the chairman of Ndege Premier Aviation Company, a private air charter and aeroplane management company based at

Kajjansi Airport Kajjansi Airfield is an airfield serving Kajjansi, a town in the Central Region of Uganda. Location The airfield is approximately , by road, north-east of Entebbe International Airport, Uganda's largest airport, and south of the central busi ...

. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Commonwealth Business Council since August 2013. In October 2007, he was made a member of Traidlinks Limited and appointed the director of the Ugandan chapter. Traidlinks is an Irish, non-profit organisation focused on improving the productivity of subject matter experts and promotes the growth of Public-Private Partnerships. Since December 2010, he has served as the

honorary consul A consul is an official representative of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, as well as to facilitate trade and friendship between the people ...

of Australia in Uganda. Since March 2013, he has served as the patron of the Australian Alumni Association Uganda.

Personal life

Bitature is married to Carol Bitature and has four children. Nataliey Bitature is one of his children.

References

External links

Patrick Bitature's MUBS Graduation Keynote, 31 May 2013

Oil: How Museveni Hired Bitature To Nail Tullow
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitature, Patrick 1960 births Living people Toro people Ugandan businesspeople People from Kabarole District Ugandan businesspeople in real estate Businesspeople in agriculture Businesspeople in the hospitality industry Uganda Technology and Management University Australian diplomats Australia–Uganda relations