Published on 02/04/2025
Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, a prominent Ugandan businessman, hails from Kabatoro in Kasese District. He began his early education at Bat Valley Primary School in Kampala before transferring to Jinja Main Street Primary School.
He had his secondary studies at Kololo Secondary School, shaping his formative years. As a Ugandan of Indian heritage from Western Uganda, Dr. Ruparelia’s background is deeply rooted in the country’s rich cultural diversity.
Driven by the belief that “Education is priceless,” Dr. Ruparelia has dedicated himself to philanthropy and business. Through determination and resilience, he has built the Ruparelia Group, a conglomerate dealing in various sectors including education, insurance, horticulture, media, real estate, and hospitality. His passion for enhancing Uganda’s education system has led to significant investments in world-class institutions and learning facilities.
The Ruparelia Group’s education portfolio has schools including —Kampala Parents’ School, Kampala International School Uganda (KISU), Delhi Public School and Victoria University. These institutions uphold a philosophy that success is attainable for all students, emphasizing knowledge acquisition, career ambition and hands on skills with a belief that anyone who passes through his institutions can achieve greatness.
In 1972, at just 16 years old, Dr. Ruparelia and his family were forced to leave Uganda due to then-President Idi Amin’s expulsion of Asians, including indigenous Ugandans of Indian descent. Seeking new opportunities, he relocated to the United Kingdom, where he took on various jobs in supermarkets, factories, and butcheries, saving diligently for the future.
With $25,000 in savings, he returned to Uganda in 1985 and seized an emerging business opportunity by importing beer from Kenya, a commodity in high demand at the time. This marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial success, which later expanded into multiple industries, solidifying his status as one of Uganda’s most influential business figures.
Recognizing his outstanding contributions to business and national development, Uganda Pentecostal University awarded Dr. Ruparelia an honorary Doctorate of Law in Business in 2007. His ventures have created employment opportunities, contributed to economic growth, and reshaped Uganda’s commercial landscape.
Victoria University, one of the flagship institutions under the Ruparelia Group, has emerged as a leading institution in higher education.
As one of Uganda’s pioneering universities accredited to teach oil and gas courses, Victoria University aims to reduce the need for students to seek education abroad. Since its inception in 2013, Victoria university has created an environment of innovation, research and student-centred learning, setting new benchmarks for academic achievement in Uganda, Easter Africa and beyond.
