Who we are
“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.
Our Origin Story
“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.
With over 25 years in business
The Simba Genesis
Growth Beyond Borders
Barely a year after launch, Simba's ambition leapt across the border into Tanzania through an exclusive partnership with Vodacom, a bold statement that Simba would be an East African brand, not just a Ugandan one.
Planting Roots in Kenya
Simba Telecom stretched its paw into Kenya, partnering exclusively with Safaricom, the country's largest mobile network, cementing its footprint as a tri-nation force in telecom distribution within just three years of inception.
Recognition and New Horizons
Nokia recognized Simba Telecom's performance and appointed it official Nokia distributor for Uganda. The same year, Simba diversified into energy with the launch of Electro-Maxx Uganda Ltd, a 50MW+ thermal power plant in Tororo, making Simba Group the first African-founded Independent Power Producer above 20MW.
A New Chapter in Hospitality
Simba unveiled Elgon Terrace Hotel in Kololo, with 71 luxury rooms and modern conference facilities. The hotel carried a bigger vision too: Simba secured the master franchise for Protea Hotels across Uganda and wider East Africa.
Accolades and Telecom Leadership
Simba Telecom's presence in Kenya was recognized as the Best Performing Mpesa Dealer and 1st Runner-Up for Best Airtime Sales, symbols of consistency, credibility, and competitive strength.
The Skyz Experience
Atop the rolling hills of Naguru, Skyz Hotel Kampala opened, a bold architectural statement standing high above Kampala with 140 elegant rooms and panoramic views, quickly becoming the heartbeat of the city's social and corporate scene.
White Nile Waste Treatment Company
Simba Group entered Uganda's oil and gas value chain, managing and treating drilling waste and converting it into usable by-products for agriculture and industry, a powerful step toward sustainability.
Investing in Knowledge
Education became a formal pillar of Simba's impact through expanded support for Ibanda University, alongside the launch of UKETA Learning, skilling Ugandans and Africans in technology, entrepreneurship, and the future of work.
HER Working Women and Project 500K
Simba launched HER Working Women, providing mentorship and capacity-building to women across East Africa, impacting thousands by 2024. The same year, Project 500K set out to equip half a million young Ugandans with market-ready skills.
Musana Carts and Innovation for the Streets
Simba invested in Musana Carts, a clean-energy street vending solution powered by solar, giving vendors dignity, safety, and profitability while reducing pollution in Uganda's cities.
Expanding Real Estate and Lifestyle Developments
Simba's property arm grew stronger with new developments in premium residences, commercial hubs, and lifestyle spaces across Kampala.
Mining, Oil and Gas, and New Frontiers
Simba secured licenses and investments in mining (gold, tin, tungsten, and iron ore) while deepening partnerships in oil and gas exploration, and laid foundations for logistics and electric mobility ventures.
The Next Chapter
Simba Group is expanding green energy projects, scaling large-scale agriculture for regional food security, building logistics hubs for East Africa's growing trade, and investing in electric vehicles and clean transport solutions.