Rajiv Ruparelia, a businessman in his own right and son of billionaire businessman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, has died. He passed on today, in the early hours of Saturday, May 3, 2025, in a tragic motor accident.
He was just 35 years old.
According to a preliminary statement issued by the Uganda Police Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, the accident occurred at approximately 1:54 AM at the Busabala Flyover in Makindye–Ssabagabo, Wakiso District. The high-performance Nissan GTR vehicle he was driving reportedly lost control after colliding with temporary pavements at a roundabout section, overturned, and caught fire. Rajiv, who was alone at the time, died instantly at the scene.
Rajiv Ruparelia was the Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group, one of East Africa’s largest and most diversified private-sector conglomerates, with interests spanning financial services, real estate, education, hospitality, agriculture, and media. Under his stewardship, the Group deepened its impact across Uganda’s economy through job creation, infrastructure investment, and philanthropy.
Rajiv Ruparelia’s final rites will be conducted in accordance with Hindu tradition. According to an official statement from the Ruparelia family, cremation will take place at the Hindu crematorium in Lugogo at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, 6th May 2025. A vigil is currently being held at the Ruparelia residence in Kololo, where family, friends, and well-wishers have gathered to pay their respects. The family has requested that their privacy be respected during this difficult and trying time.
A Life of Drive, Purpose, and Transformation
Born on January 2, 1990, Rajiv was educated at Dean Close School Cheltenham and Regents College London, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management. With the benefit of an elite education and a natural flair for leadership, Rajiv returned to Uganda with a sense of purpose—to build, uplift, and transform.
In 2017, at the age of 27, Rajiv took the reins as Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group. He quickly established himself as a bold, energetic, and visionary leader, steering the Group into new heights with a focus on job creation, sustainability, and inclusive development.
Under his leadership, the Group expanded its impact dramatically—growing employment to over 8,500 Ugandans across more than 30 companies. He championed investments in real estate, education, hospitality, recruitment, insurance, agriculture, and media—transforming the Ruparelia Group into a cornerstone of Uganda’s economic architecture.
Champion of Education
Rajiv Ruparelia believed that education was not just a tool for personal advancement, but a powerful engine for national transformation. As Promoter and Managing Director of Victoria University, Rajiv played a pivotal role in shaping the institution into one of Uganda’s fastest-growing private universities. Under his stewardship, the student population grew from just 143 in 2013 to more than 8,700 by 2024, a reflection of his bold vision to democratize access to quality, affordable, and industry-relevant education.
Rajiv’s leadership at Victoria University was defined by his push for practical learning, technology integration, and inclusive access. He introduced flexible tuition models—including instalment payments, work-study opportunities, and scholarships—ensuring that financial barriers would not limit academic dreams. Through the Ruparelia Foundation Talent Scholarship Programme, he enabled over 3,000 underprivileged students to access full or partial scholarships, many of whom were the first in their families to attend university.
Beyond higher education, Rajiv oversaw the growth and modernization of other cornerstone institutions within the Ruparelia Group, including:
- Kampala Parents’ School – A leading primary school producing top national exam performers.
- Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) – Offering the International Baccalaureate and IGCSE curricula to a globally diverse student body.
- Delhi Public School International – Uganda – A top CBSE-based institution nurturing academic and cultural excellence.
Combined, these institutions serve thousands of learners annually from over 30 nationalities, with an academic investment portfolio exceeding USD 50 million.
For Rajiv, education was also a vehicle for empowerment, especially for girls and vulnerable youth. He frequently engaged in mentorship sessions, school tours, and graduation ceremonies—often challenging students to “be creators of jobs, not just seekers.” His approach to education went beyond academics; he championed soft skills development, entrepreneurship, and digital fluency, ensuring that graduates were not just employable, but adaptable in a fast-changing world.
In championing education, Rajiv Ruparelia touched thousands of lives and laid the foundation for a more informed, skilled, and equitable Uganda. His legacy will endure not only in the buildings and institutions he helped expand, but in the aspirations he awakened and the futures he helped
Entrepreneur and Business Leader
Rajiv Ruparelia was a second-generation entrepreneur whose bold leadership and data-driven strategy redefined the trajectory of one of East Africa’s most powerful business empires. As Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group from 2017 until his death in 2025, Rajiv oversaw a period of unprecedented growth and transformation across the Group’s 30+ companies, which span sectors such as real estate, education, hospitality, financial services, agriculture, recruitment, and media. Under his stewardship, the Group’s asset base solidified at over USD 1.1 billion, with operations employing more than 8,500 staff—the majority of whom were women and youth.
Rajiv’s leadership began in earnest in 2013, when he joined the Group in a series of executive roles before being elevated to Managing Director in 2017 at the age of 27. He brought with him a modern, technology-oriented, and impact-driven approach that delivered both commercial success and measurable socio-economic benefits. Over a span of eight years, he spearheaded the creation of over 15,000 new jobs, expanded the Group’s educational outreach, and launched multiple companies in recruitment, agribusiness, and real estate development.
Real Estate and Property Development
Rajiv’s influence was perhaps most visible in the real estate sector, where he served as Managing Director of Meera Investments Ltd, Uganda’s largest private property developer. Under his leadership, Meera added over 37 new residential, commercial, industrial, and hospitality properties to its portfolio between 2014 and 2024, making the company the single largest provider of working and living spaces in the country. With over 300 properties and more than 5 million square feet under management through Crane Management Services, the Group served a daily footfall of nearly 200,000 people in Kampala’s central business district—equivalent to 5% of Kampala’s daytime population.
He also led the establishment of Triiio Developments Ltd, a fully integrated real estate development firm, which successfully delivered projects like Tagore Living—a 28-unit upscale apartment complex. Triiio was designed to serve the growing middle and upper-income housing market in Kampala with sustainable, modern homes.
Education and Workforce Development
Rajiv was a passionate education reformer. As Promoter and Managing Director of Victoria University, he led the institution’s meteoric rise from just 143 students in 2013 to over 8,700 students by 2024. This growth was accompanied by an aggressive affordability agenda, making Victoria University one of Uganda’s most accessible private institutions. Under his guidance, the university awarded over 3,000 scholarships to underprivileged students across Uganda through the Ruparelia Foundation Talent Scholarship Programme.
He was also instrumental in scaling the Group’s other educational institutions, including:
- Kampala Parents’ School (Primary)
- Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) (International)
- Delhi Public School International – Uganda (CBSE-based curriculum)
These schools, into which the Group invested over USD 50 million, collectively educated thousands of learners annually from over 30 nationalities, offering global curricula from kindergarten to university.
Hospitality, Events, and Tourism Infrastructure
As Managing Director of Speke Hotel (1996) Ltd, Rajiv oversaw the growth and modernization of the Speke Group of Hotels, which now includes:
- Speke Resort Munyonyo
- Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort
- Kabira Country Club
- Dolphin Suites, Forest Cottages, Speke Apartments, and more.
Notably, under his leadership, the Group delivered the Speke Resort Convention Centre, a world-class MICE facility that hosted over 1,900 delegates from 129 countries during the NAM and G77+China Summits in January 2024—an event that redefined Uganda’s capacity to host international conferences.
Recruitment, Labour Mobility, and Youth Employment
Through Premier Recruitment Ltd, which he founded in 2017, Rajiv tackled Uganda’s youth unemployment challenge head-on. By 2024, the firm had facilitated job placements for 5,856 Ugandans, of whom 89% were women. Together with sister agencies Serene Recruitment Ltd, Inaries Recruitment Ltd, and Shere Recruitment Ltd, his efforts gave thousands of young people access to income, dignity, and opportunity.
Agribusiness and Green Innovation
Rajiv also ventured into agriculture and sustainability-focused innovations. At Premier Roses Ltd, a Group subsidiary, he doubled greenhouse coverage to 13 hectares within two years, cementing the company’s role as Uganda’s leading flower exporter, contributing 40–60% of national floral exports.
He also co-founded RAJON Vanilla Ltd and Visk Enterprises Ltd, aiming to scale high-value export crops and support Uganda’s agribusiness potential. Through the Eco-toilet Project in Kamwokya, he championed urban sanitation reform using eco-brick technology, which transformed plastic waste into sanitation infrastructure in Kampala’s slums—an initiative that gained global attention.
Strategic Leadership and Philanthropy
In his eight-year tenure as MD, Rajiv embraced a “triple bottom line” approach—prioritizing profit, people, and planet. Through the Ruparelia Foundation, he directed over UGX 35 billion (USD 9.5 million) to causes ranging from disaster relief to sports development and wildlife conservation. His leadership style fused hands-on execution with big-picture vision, earning the respect of employees, peers, and policy leaders.
He was a member of the American Chamber of Commerce, the Indian Business Forum, and served on several boards and industry associations. He built relationships across the private and public sector, often representing Uganda in forums that promoted entrepreneurship, responsible investment, and regional economic integration.
A Champion On and Off the Track: Rajiv Ruparelia’s Sporting Legacy
Rajiv Ruparelia’s life was defined not only by business excellence but also by a profound love for sport. His athletic journey began in his teenage years and blossomed into a full-fledged legacy that spanned golf, motorsport, rugby, and racquet sports. A natural competitor and a relentless enthusiast, Rajiv used sport as a platform for discipline, growth, and national pride.
His first major breakthrough came in 2006, when at just 16 years old, he became Uganda’s youngest national golf champion, attaining a handicap of four. Golf remained a lifelong passion, one he nurtured through regular participation in local tournaments and corporate golf events. Even as his business responsibilities grew, Rajiv never let go of the fairway—often using the sport as a space for reflection, camaraderie, and connection.
But it was in motorsport, especially rallying, that Rajiv’s competitive fire truly ignited. Inspired by a lifelong fascination with speed—and despite the heartbreak of losing his uncle and rally icon Riyaz Kurji in a racing accident—Rajiv officially joined competitive rallying in 2019. After completing rally driving training in South Africa, he launched the Rajiv Ruparelia Rally Team with a state-of-the-art VW Polo Proto car. Within months, he claimed first place at the Kayunga Autocross, followed by another victory in Kapeeka—marking an explosive debut season.
His crowning achievement came in October 2021, when he won his first National Rally Championship (NRC) event—the Kabalega Rally in Hoima. Rajiv completed the race in 1 hour, 44 minutes, and 56 seconds, outpacing the season’s top contenders and winning six out of seven stages in a commanding performance. His aggressive yet calculated driving style earned him the nickname “the new kid on the block” and quickly established him as a serious contender on the national rally circuit.
Rajiv’s involvement in sport was never superficial. He also served as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the Central Motor Club (CMC), where he helped organize events, mentor young drivers, and elevate the profile of Ugandan motorsport. His “Rally Support” fan engagement campaign, launched in 2020, was one of many initiatives he used to bring fans closer to the sport.
Beyond golf and rallying, Rajiv had a strong multi-sport background. During his education in the United Kingdom, he played rugby and football at a competitive level, earning spots on first teams, and competed in tennis and squash at the second-tier level. This diverse sporting engagement reflected his deep commitment to fitness, teamwork, and personal discipline.
Through the Ruparelia Foundation, Rajiv also supported youth sports, including rugby academies, motorsport events, and sports equipment donations in underprivileged communities. His corporate leadership extended into wellness too—he introduced initiatives like the Ruparelia Group Sports Gala, promoting fitness and unity among employees across the Group’s many subsidiaries.
Rajiv Ruparelia lived and breathed sport—not just as a hobby or competition, but as a lifelong philosophy of excellence, teamwork, and resilience. In doing so, he left behind a sporting legacy as rich and enduring as his business achievements.
Philanthropist and A Life That Enriched Thousands
Rajiv Ruparelia’s legacy was not only defined by corporate success, but by his unwavering commitment to social transformation and community empowerment. As a trustee of the Ruparelia Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Ruparelia Group, Rajiv dedicated his time, influence, and resources to enriching lives—not as a slogan, but as a guiding principle. Through his leadership, the Foundation invested over UGX 35 billion (USD 9.5 million) in healthcare, education, sports, wildlife conservation, disaster relief, and community development projects.
Rajiv believed that education was the surest path to breaking the cycle of poverty. His flagship philanthropic initiative was the Talent Scholarship Programme, through which over 3,000 full and partial scholarships were awarded to bright but underprivileged students from every region of Uganda. These scholarships were mostly channelled through Victoria University, where Rajiv served as Promoter and Managing Director, ensuring that youth from disadvantaged backgrounds had access to quality, job-relevant higher education.
One of the most powerful examples of this impact is Sarah, a young woman from rural Northern Uganda who, through a Ruparelia Foundation scholarship, studied Nursing Science at Victoria University. She is now a practicing nurse in Kampala, giving back to her community and mentoring other young women—her journey a direct reflection of Rajiv’s belief in the transformative power of education. Another, David from Kibale, used his scholarship to study Computer Science and went on to develop an award-winning mobile app to support smallholder farmers—scaling it to impact hundreds across the region.
Rajiv’s compassion extended beyond education. Under his leadership, the Foundation supported a wide range of healthcare interventions, including hospital equipment donations, cancer awareness drives, and emergency response support during natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. His work with Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where the Foundation adopted and funded the care of rescued chimps like “Ruparelia,” and his support for rhino conservation at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, further revealed his commitment to protecting Uganda’s ecological heritage.
One of Rajiv’s most innovative projects was the Slums Eco-toilet Campaign in Kamwokya. Working with local NGOs, the Foundation constructed a sanitation block made entirely from eco-bricks—plastic waste compacted into usable building material. This six-stance toilet facility served hundreds of school children and addressed a pressing public health need while also advancing environmental sustainability. Plans were underway to replicate the model across other underserved areas of Kampala.
In the sports arena, Rajiv not only competed but also mentored, funded, and advocated for youth sports development. He supported rugby academies, sponsored rally talent, donated sports kits to schools, and championed inclusive corporate sports events that promoted health, wellness, and unity among staff and communities.
His approach to philanthropy was deeply personal and participatory. He regularly visited beneficiaries, listened to community needs, and ensured that the Foundation’s interventions were impact-driven and accountable. Whether responding to a call for school fees, hospital bills, or startup capital for a youth enterprise, Rajiv believed that real change began with listening and showing up.
Through his inclusive, hands-on philanthropy, Rajiv Ruparelia touched tens of thousands of lives. From inner-city Kampala to rural Karamoja, from rally drivers to orphaned children, his generosity was felt across Uganda and beyond. More than a donor, he was a builder of dreams and a believer in potential.
In the end, Rajiv’s life was not just about the fortunes he grew—but about the futures he unlocked. He leaves behind not only a towering corporate legacy, but a living, breathing community of people empowered by his kindness, his vision, and his belief in a better Uganda for all.
Gone Too Soon
Rajiv’s passing leaves a profound void—not only within the Ruparelia family and business empire but in the hearts of thousands of Ugandans and East Africans whose lives he touched. He is survived by his beloved wife, his parents Dr. Sudhir and Jyotsna Ruparelia, siblings, and a vast community of employees, partners, and beneficiaries who saw in him a leader of the future.
As Uganda mourns the tragic loss of a young visionary, we also celebrate the life of a man who gave generously of himself, built institutions that will long outlive him, and led with both ambition and compassion.
The family will announce arrangements for a memorial service and an opportunity for the public to pay their respects in the days ahead.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.