Patrick Bitature

Patrick Bitature is a Ugandan businessman and entrepreneur and believed to be the second wealthiest Ugandan after Sudhir Ruparelia. He is the chairman of Simba Group of Companies, an East African conglomerate, with interests in telecoms, energy production, mining, media, real estate, travel, and leisure. He is the owner of Protea Hotels East Africa.[2]

Doctor

Patrick Bitature
Born (1960-05-10) 10 May 1960
Fort Portal, Uganda
NationalityUgandan
CitizenshipUganda
Alma materNamasagali College
(East African Certificate of Education)
Nyakasura School
(East African Advanced Certificate of Education)
Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators
(Fellow)
United Graduate College and Seminary International
(Honorary Doctorate)
OccupationChairman
1. Umeme Limited
2. Electromaxx Uganda
3. Private Sector Foundation Uganda
Years active1990s – present
Known forInvestments, business
Net worthUS$100 million (2012)[1]

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 regime. He then became the breadwinner, 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 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 holds the rank of fellow of the institute.[4] In 2013, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the United Graduate College and Seminary International, based in Asheville, North Carolina.[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 within 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 the 70 megawatt Tororo Thermal Power Station[9]
  4. Simba Mining Limited[10]
  5. Simba Dairy Farm[11]
  6. Tororo Solar Power Station[12]
  7. Protea Hotel Kampala Marriott Skyz

Other responsibilities
  1. 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]
  2. Since 2007, he has been the chairman of the board of directors of Umeme, the largest electric energy distributor in Uganda.[14]
  3. 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]
  4. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Commonwealth Business Council since August 2013.[16]
  5. 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 subject matter experts and promotes the growth of Public-Private Partnerships.[16]
  6. Since December 2010, he has served as the honorary consul of Australia in Uganda.[17]
  7. Since March 2013, he has served as the patron of the Australian Alumni Association Uganda.[18][19]

Philanthropy

Some of is philanthropic activities include:

  • 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] Project 500K is one of the projects run by the foundation.[20]
  • 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]

Personal life

Bitature is married to Carol Bitature and has four children.[16] Nataliey Bitature is one of his children.[23]

See also

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 Africa Magazine (London). Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  5. Ndawula, Robert (10 December 2013). "Brilliance Honor". The Investigator (Uganda). Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. 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. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. 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 $60m 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. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. 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. Wafula, Walter (19 August 2011). "Australian mining firms eye Uganda". Daily Monitor Mobile. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  18. AAAU. "About the Australia Alumni Association of Uganda". Australia Alumni Association Uganda. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  19. AHCK (23 March 2014). "Uganda Australia Alumni Association AGM and Cocktail, Kampala, 23 March 2014". Australian High Commission Kenya. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  20. Business News (12 September 2017). "Bitature Foundation aims to empower 500,000 Ugandan youth". The Independent (Uganda). Uganda. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  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.
  23. "Bitature daughter excels in US1m competition". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
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