Sudhir Ruparelia Meets Fellow Ugandan Taxi Driver, Reflects In Early Hustle In London

By Frank Kamuntu

Uganda’s richest businessman, Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, made waves in London not just as a leading figure at the high-profile UK-Africa Business Summit 2025, but through an unexpected encounter that brought him full circle to his humble beginnings.

Before stepping into the grandeur of The Royal Horseguards Hotel and One Whitehall Place, the billionaire hailed a London taxi driven by a fellow Ugandan from Gulu named Alex. The brief ride instantly triggered memories of his early years in the UK, when he himself worked as a taxi driver, meticulously saving USD 25,000 to take back home and launch his first ventures.

During the ride, Sudhir shared stories of his formative hustle with Alex, reminiscing about the long hours and the determination that would eventually build the Ruparelia Group into a multi-billion-dollar empire. Witnesses say the two exchanged contacts, with Sudhir inviting Alex to lunch during his next visit to Uganda and promising a tour of one of his luxury establishments. “It was a warm, nostalgic moment,” a source at the scene revealed. “He was visibly happy, reflecting on his early hustle.”

Once at the summit, Sudhir joined other Ugandan dignitaries, including Col. Edith Nakalema, for the 15th edition of the UK-Africa Business Summit, themed “Forging Investment Partnerships for Growth.” The summit has become one of the most prestigious forums for African leaders, investors, and UK policymakers to deepen trade ties and explore new business opportunities.

For Sudhir, the event represented more than a networking opportunity. It was a symbolic return to London, the city where his entrepreneurial journey began. His “taxi-to-tycoon” story mirrored the summit’s ethos: transforming modest beginnings into engines of economic growth. As he walked through the conference halls—not as a driver but as one of Africa’s most formidable investors—Sudhir embodied the summit’s narrative of forging bold partnerships to drive prosperity, create jobs, and unlock Africa’s vast potential.