“We don’t just build businesses. We build legacies.”
From connecting a single Ugandan with our first mobile phone, to powering cities and shaping industries – Simba Group is a story of vision, grit, and the unshakable belief that Africa’s tomorrow will be greater than today.
“It started with two dreamers, a single shop, and a belief.”
It all began with a dream in 1998. Patrick and Carol Bitature founded Simba Telecom, entering into an exclusive partnership with MTN Uganda, which had just launched. What started as one small retail shop soon became a revolution — within six months, Simba signed up more Ugandans to MTN than the competition had in four years.
From the outset, Simba Telecom was about more than selling airtime. It was about giving ordinary Ugandans the power to connect with loved ones, do business, and dream bigger. This moment marked the birth of the Simba Group.
Barely a year later, Simba’s ambition leapt across the border into Tanzania. By forging an exclusive partnership with Vodacom, Simba became a trusted distributor in yet another growing East African market.
This wasn’t just expansion — it was a bold statement that Simba would be an East African brand, not just a Ugandan one.
In 2000, Simba Telecom stretched its paw into Kenya, partnering exclusively with Safaricom, the country’s largest mobile network. This move cemented Simba’s footprint in the region, making it a tri-nation force in telecom distribution within just three years of inception.
The year 2005 brought two milestones.
First, Nokia, the global mobile giant, recognized Simba Telecom’s performance and appointed it as the official Nokia distributor for Uganda — a badge of trust and credibility.
In 2005, Simba diversified into energy with the launch of Electro-Maxx Uganda Ltd.
Electro-Maxx is a 50MW+ thermal power plant based in Tororo, making Simba Group the first African-founded Independent Power Producer (IPP) above 20MW. Its contribution has been vital to stabilizing Uganda’s grid and powering industries, schools, and communities.
The company is now exploring renewable and hybrid energy solutions, furthering Simba’s commitment to Africa’s green energy transition.
In November 2007, Simba unveiled the Protea Hotel Kampala in Kololo, an upmarket district in Uganda’s capital.
With 71 luxury rooms, modern conference facilities, and a reputation for excellence, the hotel quickly became a favorite for business travelers and international visitors. Protea Kampala also carried a bigger vision — Simba secured the master franchise for Protea Hotels in Uganda and the wider East Africa region.
By 2012, Simba Telecom’s presence in Kenya was not just strong, but award-winning. The company was recognized as the Best Performing Mpesa Dealer and the 1st Runner-Up for Best Airtime Sales.
These accolades weren’t just trophies — they symbolized Simba’s consistency, credibility, and ability to thrive in highly competitive markets.
Atop the rolling hills of Naguru, a new Simba icon emerged
Protea Hotel Naguru Skyz.
Opened in 2017, the hotel was a bold architectural statement, standing high above Kampala with breathtaking panoramic views. With 140 elegant rooms, modern dining spaces, and world-class conferencing facilities, Skyz quickly became the heartbeat of Kampala’s social, diplomatic, and corporate scene.
In 2018, Simba Group entered Uganda’s oil & gas value chain with the launch of the White Nile Waste Treatment Company.
This venture was designed to manage and treat drilling waste, converting it into usable by-products for agriculture and industry. It was a powerful step toward sustainability and environmental stewardship in one of Africa’s most critical sectors.
Education became a formal pillar of Simba’s impact when the Group expanded its support for Ibanda University, a community-driven institution nurturing thousands of students.
With modern programs, ICT-driven learning, and community outreach, Ibanda reflects Simba’s belief that knowledge is Africa’s most valuable resource.
In the same year, Simba supported the founding of UKETA Learning, an innovative education platform dedicated to skilling Ugandans and Africans in technology, entrepreneurship, and the future of work.
UKETA offers flexible, industry-relevant learning programs designed for students, professionals, and businesses. From IT skills to digital marketing and leadership training, UKETA is building a bridge between traditional education and modern workplace demands.
This initiative strengthened Simba’s education pillar, ensuring that learning is not just accessible, but practical, dynamic, and future-ready.
Recognizing the untapped potential of women in leadership and entrepreneurship, Simba Group launched HER Working Women.
HER provides mentorship, professional networking, and capacity-building to women across East Africa, helping them rise in careers, business, and personal growth. By 2024, the initiative had impacted over 8,000 women — a testament to Simba’s belief that empowering women transforms entire communities.
In the same year, Simba unveiled one of its most ambitious initiatives yet: Project 500K.
Its bold goal? To equip half a million young Ugandans with practical, market-ready skills for the future of work. Through training, mentorship, and job placement support, Project 500K is shaping a generation ready to innovate, compete, and thrive.
This project reflects Simba’s deepest philosophy — the future of Africa belongs to its youth.
Through partnerships, Simba invested in Musana Carts, a clean-energy street vending solution powered by solar. These carts gave vendors dignity, safety, and profitability while reducing pollution in Uganda’s cities.
Simba’s property arm grew stronger with new developments in premium residences, commercial hubs, and lifestyle spaces across Kampala. These projects reinforced Simba’s reputation for shaping skylines and delivering modern living standards.
Simba secured licenses and investments in mining (gold, tin, tungsten, and iron ore), while deepening partnerships in oil & gas exploration. The Group also laid foundations for future ventures in logistics and electric mobility, reflecting a bold pivot into industries that will define Africa’s economic future.
The Simba story is far from finished. As we look to the future, Simba Group is;
Expanding green energy projects.
Scaling large-scale agriculture for regional food security.
Building logistics hubs for East Africa’s growing trade.
Investing in electric vehicles and clean transport solutions.
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