Patrick Bitature

Last updated

Doctor
Patrick Bitature
Born (1960-05-10) 10 May 1960 (age 64)
Fort Portal, Uganda
NationalityUgandan
CitizenshipUganda
Alma mater Namasagali 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)
Occupation(s) Chairman
1. Umeme Limited
2. Electromaxx Uganda
3. Private Sector Foundation Uganda
Years active1990s–present
Known forSimba Group, Investments, business
Website Home Page

Patrick Bitature is a Ugandan businessman, entrepreneur and author. He is the second wealthiest Ugandan after Sudhir Ruparelia. 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 the end of 2011, the group employed over 600 direct staff and 1,500 indirect staff.

Contents

He sits on the management boards of various companies, businesses and foundations in Uganda. Most notable among these appointments include Umeme Uganda Limited, Bolloré Logistics Uganda [1] as well as Mulago National Referral Hospital.

In November 2022, he was named entrepreneur of the year at the African tourism leadership forum in Botswana, Gaborone. [2]

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 Fr. 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 Mining Limited [10]

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. [13]

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, [14] 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, the largest electric energy distributor in Uganda. [15] Since 2009, he has been the chairman of Ndege Premier Aviation Company, a private air charter and aeroplane management company based at Kajjansi Airport. [16]

He has been a member of the board of directors of the Commonwealth Business Council since August 2013. [17]

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. [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]

Personal life

Bitature is married to Carol Bitature and has four children. [17] Nataliey Bitature is one of his children. [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uganda Securities Exchange</span> Principal stock exchange of Uganda

The Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) is the principal stock exchange of Uganda. It was founded in June 1997. The USE is operated under the jurisdiction of Uganda's Capital Markets Authority, which in turn reports to the Bank of Uganda, Uganda's central bank.

Mulago is a hill in north-central Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The hill rises 4,134 feet (1,260 m) above sea level. The name also applies to the neighborhoods that sit on this hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (Uganda)</span>

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, also Ministry of Energy, Oil and Mineral Development is one of the governmental bodies of Uganda. The ministry has the function of developing and implementing policies related to electricity, minerals, petroleum and petroleum products. The ministry is part of the national cabinet and is headed by a cabinet minister. The current Cabinet Minister of Energy is [Hon. Ruth Ssentamu Nankabirwa].

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited</span> Commercial bank in Uganda

Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited (SBU) is a commercial bank in Uganda and is licensed by the Bank of Uganda, the central bank and national banking regulator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Social Security Fund (Uganda)</span> Quasi-government agency

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF), is a quasi-government agency responsible for the collection, safekeeping, responsible investment, and distribution of retirement funds from employees of the private sector in Uganda who are not covered by the Government Retirement Scheme. Participation for both employers and employees is compulsory. The Uganda National Social Security Fund is the largest pension fund in the countries of the East African Community, with total assets of USh18.58 trillion, as of June 2023.

National Insurance Corporation Limited, commonly referred to as National Insurance Corporation (NIC), is an insurance company in Uganda. The company is a leading provider of insurance and risk management services in the country.

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 Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). As of December 2023, the company's total assets were approximately UGX:2.347 trillion, with shareholders' equity of approximately UGX:937.381 billion.

William Samson Kalema, is a Ugandan chemical engineer, business consultant and entrepreneur, who serves as the managing partner of BDO East Africa, "a professional firm that offers audit, accounting, tax and business advisory services to private and public sector clients", in the countries of the East African Community and Ethiopia.

Kamwookya, sometimes spelled as Kamwokya, is a location within the city of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest metropolitan area.

Uganda Telecommunications Corporation Limited (UTCL), also (UTel), is an information and communication technology network company in Uganda owned by the government of Uganda. UTel acquired the assets and some of the liabilities of the defunct Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) which was also owned by the Ugandan government. UTL was previously in receivership which it entered after the Libyan company that owned about 69 percent shares abandoned the investment in 2017.

The Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU) is a private university in Uganda founded in 2012 and licensed by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education (UNCHE).

The Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) is a parastatal company whose primary purpose is to generate electric power for use in Uganda and for sale to neighboring countries. As of December 2017, UEGCL's generation capacity was 380 megawatts, with that capacity planned to increase to over 1,300 megawatts, by 2023.

Juma Kisaame is a Ugandan accountant, businessman, and former bank executive. He is the current chairman of the Uganda Revenue Authority, since March 2020. He also serves as chairman of Uganda Investment Authority.

The Kampala Protea Hotel is a hotel in Kampala, Uganda.

The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) is a parastatal company whose primary purpose is to make bulk electricity purchases and transmit the electricity along high-voltage wires to local and foreign distribution points. UETCL is the sole authorized national bulk energy purchaser and the sole authorized electricity importer and exporter in Uganda.

Eskom Uganda or Eskom Uganda Limited (EUL) is the largest generator of energy in Uganda and was incorporated in 2002 for a 20 year concession under a government regulatory framework.

The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) is a parastatal company whose primary purpose is to distribute electric power to domestic and commercial end-users in Uganda, at and below 33 kiloVolts. This role was sub-leased to Umeme for a 20-year concession that ends in 2025.

Florence Namatta Mawejje, commonly known as Florence Mawejje is a Ugandan businesswoman, human resource professional and corporate executive, who serves as the General Manager for human resource at Centenary Rural Development Bank, a large commercial bank in Uganda.

Nataliey Bitature is a Ugandan entrepreneur and executive currently serving as Chief of Staff at The Simba Group. Bitature was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2015 and is the daughter of Patrick Bitature, one of the richest people in Uganda.

References

  1. ↑ "Bolloré transport & logistics appoints Patrick Bitature as new chairman in Uganda". www.bollore-transport-logistics.com. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "Tourism: Bitature Named Entrepreneur of the Year". ChimpReports. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  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. ↑ Independent, The (4 September 2021). "Bitature joins Mulago Hospital board". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  14. ↑ Nandudu, Prossy (16 December 2014). "Bitature assures investors on market for produce". New Vision . Kampala. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "UMEME Board of Directors". Umeme . Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. 1 2 3 "Profile of Patrick Bitature, Founder, Chairman & Group CEO Simba Group of Companies". University of Nairobi . Retrieved 23 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. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  20. ↑ AHCK (23 March 2014). "Uganda Australia Alumni Association AGM and Cocktail, Kampala, 23 March 2014". Australian High Commission Kenya. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  21. ↑ "Bitature daughter excels in US1m competition" . Retrieved 11 April 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.