Patrick Bitature
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I After seven grueling years, businessman Patrick Bitature has finally settled his long-running debt dispute with South African investment firm Vantage Capital through court-guided mediation at the Supreme Court of Uganda, bringing an end to 34 related legal cases across Uganda and the United Kingdom.
The landmark commercial settlement, reached on October 22, 2026, followed years of litigation, arbitration proceedings and attempts by the creditor to recover money advanced to companies associated with Bitature’s Simba Group.
The dispute, involving a loan that had grown to approximately $17 million (Shs71.49 billion), was resolved through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a process that allows parties to negotiate an agreement with the assistance of a neutral mediator instead of continuing with adversarial court proceedings.
Supreme Court Justice Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza guided the negotiations, which resulted in the resolution of 34 interconnected cases, including lawsuits, appeals and claims before courts in Uganda, England and Wales.
Speaking after the settlement, Bitature welcomed the outcome, describing the dispute as a commercial disagreement that had eventually been resolved amicably.
“Yes, eventually everything comes to an end,” Bitature told the local media, adding that a commercial dispute between two parties has been resolved amicably.
How the dispute started
The disagreement traces its roots to December 11, 2014, when Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Partnership advanced a $10 million financing facility to Simba Properties Investment Company, a business associated with Bitature’s Simba Group.
The financing was backed by corporate and personal guarantees involving Bitature, his wife Carol and several companies linked to the businessman’s commercial interests, including Simba Telecom, Elgon Terrace Hotel and Linda Properties.
However, disagreements over repayment eventually escalated into litigation in 2019, as Vantage sought to recover the outstanding loan and accumulated interest and other charges.
What began as a financing dispute subsequently developed into a complex legal battle involving several companies, multiple court proceedings and an international arbitration process.
The disagreement became particularly serious when Vantage pursued recovery measures against properties associated with Bitature’s business empire.
In 2022, the creditor moved to auction assets, including Skyz Hotel in Naguru, Elizabeth Royal Apartments and Moyo Close Apartments in Kololo.
The attempts to recover the money triggered additional court battles as the parties contested the enforcement of the debt and the potential consequences for the affected businesses.
International arbitration complicated the battle
The dispute also proceeded to arbitration before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), resulting in an award in favour of Vantage.
The award, reported at $65.7 million, subsequently became a major point of contention as proceedings continued over its enforcement and challenges brought by Bitature’s companies.
The dispute therefore extended beyond Uganda’s courts, with related proceedings in England and Wales adding another layer of complexity to the recovery process.
Rather than dealing with one case at a time, the parties ultimately agreed to pursue a comprehensive settlement that addressed the interconnected proceedings.
The mediation was conducted under Supreme Court Civil Appeal No. 28 of 2025 and Mediation No. 2 of 2026.
According to the Judiciary, the agreement resolved 18 cases before Uganda’s High Court, 13 before the Supreme Court and three claims in England and Wales.
The outcome effectively brought the various legal battles to a close through one negotiated agreement, avoiding the prospect of further prolonged litigation across multiple courts.
Why mediation became the way out
Justice Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza commended the parties and their lawyers for choosing negotiations to settle the dispute.
She encouraged businesses to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution, noting its potential to deliver faster and more affordable outcomes than lengthy court battles.
For Bitature and Vantage, the mediation provided an opportunity to reach commercial finality after years of legal confrontation.
Prolonged litigation can consume substantial corporate resources through legal fees, court costs and management time. Disputes involving international financing can become even more expensive when they require proceedings in different jurisdictions.
Lawyer Robert Kirunda described the settlement as groundbreaking, particularly because a single mediation process resolved 34 cases across different jurisdictions.
“Settling commercial cases through mediation protects clients’ interests while delivering faster justice,” he said in an interview late yesterday.
He observed that prolonged litigation drains corporate resources through legal fees and commended the mediator for guiding the parties towards a commercial settlement.
The resolution also demonstrates how court-annexed mediation can help parties move beyond disagreements over debt recovery and enforcement to negotiate outcomes that both sides can accept.
Settlement terms remain confidential
Although the Judiciary announced the conclusion of the dispute, the exact financial terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.
It remains unclear how much Bitature or the companies involved agreed to pay, whether Vantage accepted a reduced amount, or whether any outstanding interest, penalties and legal costs were waived.
The parties have also not publicly explained how the agreement addresses the assets previously targeted in the creditor’s recovery efforts.
Consequently, while the settlement closes the legal dispute, the financial arrangements underpinning the agreement remain confidential.
The agreement marks the end of one of Uganda’s most prominent corporate debt disputes, which raised questions about loan guarantees, international arbitration, debt enforcement and the protection of creditors’ rights.
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