Kampala, Uganda: Rajiv Ruparelia, the young and energetic Managing Director of the wealthy Ruparelia Group, who was destined to be the heir to Uganda’s wealthiest business mogul, Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, tragically lost his life in a fatal car crash on the morning of Saturday, May 3, 2025.
The accident, according to reports, occurred at approximately 1:54 AM at the Busabala Flyover traffic lights in Makindye-Ssabagabo, Wakiso District.
According to a statement by Traffic Police Spokesperson SP Michael Kananura, Rajiv was driving a Nissan GTR, registration number UAT 638L, from Kajjansi towards Munyonyo when he lost control after colliding with temporary pavements at the roundabout section of the flyover.
The vehicle overturned and caught fire, leading to his instant death.
But who was Rajiv Ruparelia? We look at his life journey below
Born on January 2, 1990, in Kampala, Uganda, Rajiv was the youngest child and only son of Dr. Sudhir and Jyotsna Ruparelia. He pursued his education in the United Kingdom, earning a degree in Financial Management from Regent’s University London in 2013.
During his time in the UK, Rajiv was actively involved in sports, participating in rugby, football, tennis, and squash teams at his university. He was also an accomplished golfer, achieving a handicap of four at the age of sixteen.
Business Ventures and Leadership
Rajiv’s entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 17 when he invested in a nightclub while still in school. In 2014, he joined the family business, the Ruparelia Group, starting as a construction manager overseeing projects like the Kampala Parents School and Kabira Country Club expansion.
He later advanced to roles involving design, planning, feasibility, and implementation of various developments, including hotels, schools, universities, offices, apartments, farms, shopping malls, and arcades.
In 2017, Rajiv was appointed Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group, overseeing a conglomerate with interests in real estate, hospitality, education, finance, and media. Under his leadership, the group expanded its footprint across East Africa, recently launching initiatives like the Speke Resort Convention Centre and the Mega Pearl Business Park in Kampala, the country’s capital.
The Ruparelia Group’s real estate portfolio enjoyed enormous growth under Rajiv’s watch, witnessing the addition of properties like Kampala Boulevard, Kingdom Kampala Mall, and Speke Apartments, proving that it was, perhaps, not a bad idea to stake so much on high-risk enterprises.
Rajiv also ventured into new areas such as labor export through Premier Recruitment, music production with Night Shift Studios, and expressed interest in medical cannabis cultivation.
Passion for Motorsports
Rajiv’s passion for motorsports was evident in his active participation in rally driving. He underwent rally-driving instruction in South Africa under the mentorship of Africa’s highest-rated rallying coach, Leone Botha, who described Rajiv as the best raw talent he had ever trained.
Matching the oftentimes dizzying speeds the late Riyaz Kurji effortlessly hit in local rallying events is no mean feat. Rajiv gave it his best shot, excelling at times, and if other moments fell short, it was not for want of trying.
In 2019, Rajiv unveiled his rally car, a Volkswagen Polo R nicknamed “Double Trouble,” and went on to win the Club Rally Championship (CRC) Class at the Total Kabalega Rally in Hoima.
He had also last taken part in a competitive racing event in 2022 after a VW Polo Proto he unveiled to much fanfare three years earlier carried him to some famous victories.
At the time of his death, Rajiv was the patron of the Central Motorsport Club (CMC).
Rajiv Survives Assassination Attempt
In July 2020, Rajiv survived an alleged assassination attempt by police guards attached to the Bank of Uganda while jogging near his father’s house in Kololo, Kampala, when a van attempted to run him over. He managed to escape, but his security dogs were injured in the incident as they ‘tried to save him’.
Personal Life & Legacy
Rajiv met his wife, Naiya Khagram, at a revision camp in London when he was about 17. They reconnected at the age of 22 in 2017 and eventually got married in 2018. The couple has a child together.
He is survived by his wife, Naiya, their child, and his parents, Dr. Sudhir and Jyotsna Ruparelia, as well as sisters, Meera and Sheena.
Rajiv’s untimely death is a significant loss to Uganda’s business and sports communities. His visionary leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and passion for sports left an indelible mark on the nation’s landscape.
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