PATRICK BITATURE: A profile of one of Uganda’s foremost tourismpreneurs Before Covid-19 struck, Uganda’s tourism sector was one of the biggest sectors in the economy. Sector earnings reached USD1.6 billion in 2018/19 just about twice of all agriculture export earnings, making up about 7.7 per cent of GDP. The Sector employed 667,600 jobs- an equivalent of 6.3% of all total formal employment. The sector was bad hit by Covid-19. Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) estimates indicate that Uganda in 2020, lost about about 1 million visitors. Monthly bedspace occupancy rates slumped from an average 30% in Q1 of 2020, dropping to just 1.8% in April 2020 as the country went into total lockdown. However recent statistics show the sector is starting to recover, with occupancy rates reaching about 27% in December 2020. As the sector embarks on a post-Covid-19 recovery, CEO East Africa, in recognition of the sector’s resilience, shall each week profile a major player in the sector, highlighting their contributions in the sector. Today, we are honoured to present, Patrick Bitature the Founder, Chairman and CEO of the Simba Group of companies as our first tourismpreneur.

Founded in 1998, by Patrick Bitature, Simba Group is a conglomerate of East African companies spanning telecommunications, properties, power generation, agro-business, oil and gas, tourism and social enterprise. Simba Group companies have been built to operate under the Group’s core principles of integrity, innovation and adaptability, and are overseen by sound management structures and rigorous boards.

The Simba Group owns two hotels in Kampala- Protea Hotel Kampala and Skyz Hotel, that directly employ 380 people and indirectly, another 4,000 people along its supply chain. 

Protea Hotel Kampala is a four-star hotel located in upmarket Kololo, Kampala. It opened in 2007 with a capacity of 71 rooms and large conference facilities. The hotel has quickly built loyalty with business travellers and conference businesses. Before Covid-19, the hotel achieved up to 70% occupancy rates. 

Skyz Hotel, operating as Protea Hotel Kampala Skyz, on the other hand, is a relatively new four-star hotel atop, Naguru Hill, the highest hill in Kampala with a capacity of 140 rooms. It was opened in 2017.

Mr Bitature also holds the master franchise for Protea Hotels Uganda and developments in the rest of East Africa and currently manages all the 3 Protea Hotels, namely: Protea Hotel Kampala, Protea Hotel Entebbe and Protea Hotel Kampala Skyz.

Away from hotels, Bitature is also the owner and proprietor of Simba Tours and Travel, Uganda, which is the longest International Air Transport Association (IATA) certified travel agent in Uganda. It is an award-winning travel agency and among the top 3 travel agencies in Uganda. It has two branches in Kampala. 

In December 2010, he was appointed the Honorary Consul of Australia to Uganda, where his core responsibility is to promote and enhance relations between the two countries as well as foster trade and investments between Uganda and Australia.

He is a member of the Private Sector Foundation (PSFU) advisory council and the immediate past Chairman. The amiable and soft-spoken Bitature is also the Chairman of the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) steering committee that was created to reposition Uganda as a competitive and attractive destination as well as raise awareness of the Uganda Tourism Board, its activities, products and services.

Worth noting, Protea Hotel, recently partnered with the Mastercard Foundation and PSFU to speed up the recovery of the tourism sector, which was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative especially targets those in the catering and local crafts industries by training and retraining to stimulate job creation.

Over and above his businesses making a difference to thousands of Ugandans’ lives and beyond, Bitature and his wife Carol, are passionate about uplifting the lives of the less fortunate.

They founded the Patrick & Carol Bitature Foundation in 2010 with a focus on education and life-saving health care initiatives. The Foundation has financed decent education for several disadvantaged youths in Uganda, equipping them with employable skills to improve their economic livelihoods in the future. The Foundation is also big on disseminating financial literacy to the youth through various platform presentations.

The foundation has also been active in contributing to child healthcare through Cure Hospital, a pioneering neurosurgeon Children’s Hospital in Mbale, Uganda.