Spotlight on Dr. Robert Kirunda: Beyond the Vantage–Bitature Case The recent settlement of the long-running commercial dispute between businessman Patrick Bitature’s Simba Group and South African lender Vantage Capital has brought renewed attention to one of the lawyers at the centre of the nearly seven-year legal battle: Dr. Robert Kirunda, Founding Partner of Kirunda & Co. Advocates. The dispute, which originated from a US$10 million financing agreement signed in 2014, generated numerous court proceedings, international arbitration and complex questions about commercial law, contractual enforcement and foreign investment in Uganda. Its eventual resolution through Supreme Court-led mediation brought an end to a dispute that, according to Kirunda, involved 34 proceedings across Uganda and England and Wales. But beyond the Vantage–Bitature case, who is Robert Kirunda? A corporate and commercial lawyer with more than two decades of legal experience, Kirunda has built his career around investment law, corporate transactions, commercial litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). His academic journey began at Makerere University, where he pursued a Bachelor of Laws degree between 2000 and 2004, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice at Uganda's Law Development Centre in 2005. He subsequently obtained a Master of Laws in International Trade, Investment and Business in Africa from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, before pursuing another Master of Laws in Law, Science and Technology at Stanford Law School in the United States (2023–2024). He is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb). Since establishing Kirunda & Co. Advocates in 2012, he has worked across finance, infrastructure, technology, investment and commercial dispute resolution. His career has also included lecturing at Makerere University School of Law, serving on Uganda's Fourth Industrial Revolution task force and contributing to discussions on technology regulation and innovation. In 2023, CEO East Africa Magazine recognised Kirunda among Uganda's 75 Highly Regarded Business Lawyers. In an earlier interview with CEO East Africa Magazine, Kirunda offered some revealing insights into his philosophy of law, professional responsibility and commercial justice. “People should not use the courts to avoid legitimate obligations,” he observed. On professional integrity, he was equally emphatic: “Integrity is sitting across from a client and saying, ‘You will lose — don’t file,’ even if that means losing revenue.” He also expressed concern about the state of Uganda's judicial system: “Courts don’t just resolve disputes; they guarantee the integrity of a country. But right now, our court system is painfully slow and dangerously troubled by worse problems than sloth.” His outlook extends beyond conventional legal practice into the future of commerce and technology. “Law follows commerce, and to lead in law (or any sector), you must think ahead,” he told CEO East Africa Magazine. And his ambition for his firm is distinctly continental: “Our ambition is to build what we hope will become the most powerful, forward-thinking law firm on the continent.” #RobertKirunda #VantageCapital #PatrickBitature #UgandaLawyers #CommercialLaw #AlternativeDisputeResolution #CEOEastAfricaMagazine #EastAfricaBusinessNews