In Summary: The Ruparelia Group is set to open Paradise Island Resort on December 1, 2026, adding a 19-acre private island retreat to its hospitality portfolio. The solar-powered resort will feature 38 accommodation units and facilities targeting holidaymakers, corporate clients and event organisers.
Kampala, Uganda — Ugandan businessman and the country’s richest man, Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, is set to expand his hospitality portfolio with the opening of Paradise Island Resort, a 19-acre private island retreat on Lake Victoria scheduled to begin receiving guests on December 1, 2026.
The resort, developed under the Ruparelia Group’s hospitality business, is located about 20 minutes by speedboat from Speke Resort Munyonyo, the group’s flagship lakeside property south of Kampala. It has been designed as an eco-friendly destination powered entirely by solar energy, with indigenous vegetation retained to preserve the island’s natural environment.
Paradise Island has 38 accommodation units developed in two phases of 22 and 16 units. The facilities comprise 10 standard cottages, 11 cliff-hanger cottages overlooking the lake, 14 deluxe two-bedroom cottages and three executive villas.
The resort is targeting couples, families, holidaymakers and corporate clients, with facilities intended to accommodate conferences, corporate retreats, weddings and private functions.
One of its major features is a man-made beach stretching approximately 500 metres. Construction materials and sand were transported to the island using a specially built barge, given the challenges of moving heavy supplies across the lake.
The project is being led by Sheena Ruparelia, Sudhir’s daughter, and has taken more than five years to reach its planned opening. Construction began on May 1, 2021, with the launch date shifted several times from the initial November 2025 target to later dates in 2026.
Paradise Island adds to the Ruparelia Group’s hospitality portfolio, which includes Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kabira Country Club, Speke Hotel and other accommodation properties in and around Kampala.
Speke Resort Munyonyo has hosted major international gatherings, including the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the Non-Aligned Movement summit in January 2024, reinforcing the group’s presence in Uganda’s conference and events market.
The new property introduces a different offering centred on private-island accommodation, nature and leisure experiences on Lake Victoria.
Dr Sudhir built his business empire after returning to Uganda from Britain in 1985. His family’s departure from the country followed the expulsion of Asians under former president Idi Amin in 1972.
The Ruparelia Group has since grown from a trading business into a conglomerate with interests in real estate, hospitality, education, floriculture, insurance and media. Property remains a major part of its business, with extensive commercial and residential holdings in Kampala.
Ruparelia is frequently described as Uganda’s richest businessman, with his wealth estimated at approximately US$1.1 billion by Billionaires. Africa.
The opening of Paradise Island Resort adds another high-end destination to Uganda’s hospitality sector, particularly the Lake Victoria tourism circuit. Its private-island setting, solar-powered operations and event facilities position it to serve both leisure travellers and corporate clients.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
