Kampala, Uganda:- Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, a renowned Ugandan businessman and property magnate, has issued a stern public warning following the circulation of a manipulated deepfake video falsely portraying him endorsing a dubious online financial platform.
The doctored video, allegedly generated using Deepfake Artificial Intelligence (AI), features Dr. Ruparelia appearing to claim that the Government of Uganda is “hiding information” about a highly lucrative investment scheme capable of yielding up to UGX 10 million per month from an initial investment of UGX 915,000.
The video further alleges government interference, censorship, and a personal vendetta against the billionaire, citing deleted videos and ignored requests. “This platform is completely legal, licensed, and working in the country,” the AI-generated voice that sounds almost as similar as Sudhir’s voice falsely asserts. “Those who have already invested UGX 915,000 are making UGX 10 million monthly, according to verifiable statistics.”
However, investigations by DailyExpress have revealed that the video is a highly convincing forgery, likely created by repurposing footage from a legitimate interview Dr. Ruparelia gave to the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC). Both visuals and audio were digitally altered to create the illusion of a genuine endorsement.
Speaking of the incident, Dr. Ruparelia unequivocally disassociated himself from the misleading video, describing it as a malicious attempt to exploit his image and credibility.
“This is not me. My voice, my image, they’ve been manipulated using AI to trick people into parting with their hard-earned money,” Ruparelia said, urging the public to remain vigilant and verify any financial offers directly through official channels.
“Please be careful, it is a scam. I urge the public to exercise extreme caution. I have not endorsed any online investment platform promising unrealistic returns.”
Dr. Ruparelia, whose vast business empire spans banking, real estate, and hospitality, is no stranger to adversity, having built his fortune from humble beginnings. Now, he is using his platform to educate the public against the evolving threat of AI-based scams. “Don’t fall for the next one,” he cautioned. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Cybersecurity experts caution that AI technologies, including deepfakes and voice cloning, have become the fraudster’s weapon of choice. “From creating realistic videos to mimicking voices with eerie precision, AI is making it easier for conmen to exploit trust,” said Dr. Angela Ndaka, a Kampala-based tech analyst.
She further warned that such scams could escalate, targeting not only high-profile figures like Ruparelia but also everyday citizens.
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