Court Orders Businessman Patrick Bitature to Pay Shs909 Million to Finicon

High Court Judge Stephen Mubiru has ruled that businessman Patrick Bitature must pay Finicon (U) Limited a sum of Shs909 million. This significant amount represents unpaid contractual fees for consultancy services provided by Finicon.

The dispute stems from two agreements made in 2012. Finicon was contracted to offer professional consultancy for a high-end boutique hotel on Summit View Road in Kololo, and also to remodel Mr. Bitature’s residential property on Malcolm-X Road, also in Kololo.

Finicon informed the court that they had completed approximately 76 percent of their contractual obligations for both projects. However, they had only received a fraction of the agreed-upon payment, leaving a substantial balance outstanding. The company also stated that they had to use their own funds to cover expenses for subcontractors involved in the projects.

Mr. Bitature contested the claims, asserting that the projects had not progressed to a stage where final construction costs could be determined. He also argued that the partial payment made was intended as a full and final settlement and challenged the validity of the contracts on grounds of ambiguity and alleged fraud.

Justice Mubiru dismissed Mr. Bitature’s defence, finding the contracts enforceable as they contained clear methods for calculating professional fees. The court also found that the involvement of a registered architect employed by Finicon satisfied legal requirements, rejecting claims of illegality regarding professional qualifications.

The judge further ruled that Finicon should receive interest at a rate of nine percent per annum on the outstanding amount from May 20, 2014, until the debt is fully settled. Mr. Bitature was also ordered to bear the full costs of the legal proceedings.