Ugandan businessman and East Africa’s richest man H.E Dr Sudhir Ruparelia has tasked the government of Uganda, especially parliament to consider a constitutional amendment to recognize Indians who have lived in Uganda for decades as one of the tribes of Ugandans.

“We are seeking recognition as a tribe in the country, with a call to lawmakers to expedite a constitutional amendment to make it happen. It’s a matter of respect, unity, and honour for the Indian community that has contributed significantly to Uganda’s growth and development for over 120 years,” Dr Sudhir urged.

The Billionaire made the remarks during the Pan-African Pyramid (PAP) 7th PAP Global Awards and Bone Fire dinner held at Fairway Hotel, Kampala on 31st August 2024.

Dr. Sudhir noted that over 35,000 Indians live in Uganda at present with the Indian Community mainly concentrated in Kampala and Jinja, and it is estimated to contribute up to 65% of the country’s total tax revenue.

“Let’s be honest, how can a community contribute 65% of total taxes nationally and you call them foreigners when they’ve been here for over 120 years?” he wondered

At the same event, Dr Sudhir, the Chairman of Ruparelia Group of Companies who also doubles as the Consul of Nepal to Uganda was also honoured with the Lifetime Achiever (Business Entrepreneur)’ award for his remarkable contributions to the growth of Uganda’s economy and Africa at large.

After receiving his award, The Real Estate Mogul commended PAP Speaker and founder, Andrew Irumba Katusabe for recognizing his efforts.

”I’m extremely happy that at least my Pan-Africanism is seen by people like Irumba, because sincerely I will never find a better continent than this, that’s why whatever I do for this continent I do it with one heart. So I feel so honoured to have received this award. I’m honestly going to keep this card next to my ATM card, I will always carry it. Pan-Africanism is what should unite us all and therefore I request that you continue to support organizations like PAP because they are tirelessly doing their best for the betterment of our motherland Africa”. Dr Sudhir said.

The City Tycoon also revealed how he was number one among the biggest taxpayer individuals in the country last, and his Ruparelia Group was also recognized in the top 10 biggest taxpayers companies in the country.

“Last year I was the number one biggest taxpayer individual, according to URA, my grandfather came to Africa over 120 years ago. My father was born here, I was born here, and all my children are born here. I am a 4th generation living in Africa. So I don’t know who can be more African than me,” Dr Sudhir said sending the audience to instant laughter.

About Sudhir Ruparelia

Born in Kabatoro, Kasese District in the Western Region of Uganda to an upper-middle-class Indian Gujarati family, Sudhir Ruparelia fled to the United Kingdom with his parents in 1972 to seek asylum at the age of 16, when then Ugandan president Idi Amin Dada expelled all Asians from Uganda.

As a young man in England, Ruparelia successfully established several small businesses before returning to Uganda in the 1980s to take advantage of the improving political and business stability. In 1985, at the age of 29, he started Ruparelia Group as a small trading company with US$ 25,000 he returned from UK as savings accumulated from several odd jobs he did, including working in factories, Supermarkets, Butcheries and as a taxi driver in the UK.

Sudhir became Uganda’s first billionaire in 2014 and was East Africa’s richest person, Africa’s 28th and his Crane Bank was one of Uganda’s top three Banks in ranking, after Centenary and Absa Banks. As of November 2023, Sudhir is the wealthiest person in Uganda, with an estimated net worth of over US$1.2 billion.

In February 2020, Ruparelia was appointed the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Nepal to Uganda, by the president of Nepal, Bidhya Devi Bhandari. Sudhir now owns the largest domestic residence in East Africa with 130,000 sq metres.

In 2007, Ruparelia was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in business, by the Uganda Pentecostal University, in recognition of his contribution to Uganda’s economic growth.

On October 9, 2013, Sudhir was awarded a Golden Jubilee Presidential Medal by President Museveni in recognition of his contribution to the growth of business and industry in Uganda as an industrialist. Having been expelled, Sudhir could have chosen to invest elsewhere, after all, he had got his Capital in UK not Africa, but his love for Africa, having been born in Kasese, Western Uganda, he chose to come back and invest at home.

Together with his ever-supportive wife Jyostna Ruparelia, they have three children, Rajiv Ruparelia, Meera Ruparelia and Sheena Ruparelia.