Court Orders Bitature to Pay Finicon Shs954m Over Unpaid Consultancy Fees

What the report says

The High Court Commercial Division has resolved a long-running dispute between Finicon (U) Limited and businessman Patrick Bitature over unpaid consultancy fees linked to two Kololo projects. In a judgment delivered electronically on August 18, 2026, Justice Stephen Mubiru ruled that Finicon was entitled to payment for architectural, engineering and project management work carried out under contracts signed in 2012.

According to Nile Post, the case concerned consultancy services for a planned boutique hotel on Summit View Road and a residential remodelling project on Malcolm-X Road. Finicon told court it had completed substantial portions of the assignments, including feasibility studies, designs, approvals and tender-related work. Bitature, who is founder and chairman of Simba Group of Companies, disputed the claim and argued that the projects did not progress far enough to justify the amount sought, and that an earlier payment settled the matter.

The court rejected those arguments, finding that the contracts were enforceable and that the payment made in 2014 was not shown to be a full and final settlement. Justice Mubiru assessed the earned fees at $279,136.17, then ordered Bitature to pay $256,136.17, equivalent to about Shs954 million, exclusive of VAT. The sum will accrue interest at 9% per year from May 20, 2014, and Finicon was also awarded costs.

The ruling ends a dispute that had lasted roughly 14 years and is notable because it clarifies how consultancy fees can be calculated where project costs are not finally fixed. More broadly, it underscores the courts’ role in enforcing commercial contracts and resolving payment disagreements in Uganda’s property and construction sector.