Sudhir Ruparelia Calls On Global Investors To Explore Uganda’s Boundless Opportunities 

By Frank Kamuntu

Ugandan billionaire Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia used the 15th UK-Africa Business, Trade and Investment Summit in London to urge global investors to take a fresh look at Uganda as a land of opportunity.

The summit, held on 12 September at The Royal Horseguards Hotel, brought together over 300 high-profile participants, including ministers, CEOs, and senior officials from international organizations such as the World Bank. Uganda’s delegation was led by First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga and Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, who highlighted the country’s potential in energy, technology, and agriculture, while emphasising Uganda’s strategic positioning as a gateway for trade across Africa.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Sudhir, Chairman of the Ruparelia Group, spotlighted sectors already driving Uganda’s growth, including real estate, agriculture, hospitality, and tourism. “Together with my family, we’ve invested wholeheartedly in Uganda, our beloved home,” he said. “The real estate sector is vibrant, agriculture offers endless opportunities, and hospitality and tourism are thriving. This is the moment to uplift our economy.”

Sudhir’s message resonated deeply because of his own remarkable journey. Forced into exile during Idi Amin’s regime, he relocated to the United Kingdom, where he worked as a taxi driver to survive. Returning to Uganda in the 1980s, he launched his business career with a small forex bureau. From these modest beginnings, he built what is now one of East Africa’s largest private business empires.

Today, the Ruparelia Group manages over 300 real estate properties and operates some of Uganda’s most prestigious hospitality facilities, including Speke Resort Munyonyo and Kabira Country Club. Its diversified investments span education, floriculture, insurance, and several other sectors, collectively providing thousands of jobs and contributing significantly to Uganda’s economy and tax revenues.

Sudhir’s wealth is estimated at between USD 1.2 and 1.6 billion, reflecting both his entrepreneurial acumen and resilience. Beyond business, he has made a mark in philanthropy through the Ruparelia Foundation, funding initiatives in health, education, and social development.

During his address, Sudhir underscored Uganda’s favourable economic environment for investors: GDP growth of 6.3 percent, manageable inflation at 3.8 percent, and foreign direct investment reaching USD 3.7 billion. He highlighted promising sectors such as oil, agritech, and tourism, while pointing to Uganda’s strategic location as a gateway to Africa’s 1.4 billion consumers under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

The summit also explored the future of digital trade, new infrastructure opportunities, and ways to strengthen Africa-UK partnerships post-Brexit. Within this context, Sudhir’s intervention stood out. His words carried the weight of lived experience—someone who has navigated Uganda’s turbulent history, overcome personal challenges, and built a multi-sector empire. For delegates, he offered a compelling testament that Uganda is not just a story of potential, but a place where investment can generate tangible, lasting results.