Uganda’s business magnate Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievers Award at the National Property Awards, a prestigious ceremony held last week at the Sheraton Hotel, Kampala.
The accolade, presented by the Uganda Homeowners Association under the leadership of Dr. Edwin Musiime, celebrated Sudhir’s immense contribution to the growth of Uganda’s real estate sector and his pivotal role in widening access to affordable housing.
“Dr. Sudhir has lived a life dedicated to bettering the standards of living for many Ugandans. Beyond affordable housing, he has invested heavily in education, healthcare, and recreation,” Dr. Musiime noted in his keynote address.
Sudhir, widely regarded as Uganda’s wealthiest businessman, has built an extensive property portfolio through Meera Investments and the Ruparelia Group. His landmark developments include Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kabira Country Club, Kingdom Kampala, Pearl Tower, and the recently launched One-10 Apartments in Kololo.
Beyond real estate, the Ruparelia Group has diversified into banking, hospitality, education, and agriculture — cementing its reputation as one of Uganda’s most influential business empires.
Sudhir’s entrepreneurial journey traces back to the United Kingdom, where, according to Forbes, he saved $25,000 before returning to Uganda in 1985. He first ventured into beer distribution before shifting into property development, a decision that transformed Kampala’s skyline and positioned him as a central figure in Uganda’s urban growth.
At the ceremony, Hon. Judith Nabakooba, Minister of State for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, highlighted Uganda’s housing deficit of nearly seven million units, urging greater public-private collaboration to provide affordable housing solutions.
Her call was supported by Mugabi Lazarus, Director of the Board of Governors at AREA Uganda, who reminded households to cap accommodation costs at 30% of income. He stressed that while housing shortages are a global challenge, targeted government intervention could help close Uganda’s gap.
