Published on 16/09/2025
Ugandan tycoon and property magnate Sudhir Ruparelia has once again championed Uganda as a prime investment destination, delivering his message at the 15th UK-Africa Business, Trade & Investment Summit in London.
Speaking on the side-lines of the summit, the Ruparelia Group Chairman pointed to real estate, agriculture, hospitality, and tourism as sectors with immense potential to drive Uganda’s development.
“Together with my family, we’ve invested wholeheartedly in Uganda, our beloved home,” he noted. “The real estate sector is vibrant, agriculture offers endless opportunities, and hospitality and tourism are thriving. This is the moment to uplift our economy.”
The gathering, held on 12 September at The Royal Horse guards Hotel, attracted more than 300 high-level participants, among them ministers, CEOs, and World Bank officials, all seeking to strengthen trade links between the UK and Africa in the post-Brexit era. Uganda’s delegation was led by First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga and Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, who highlighted prospects in energy, ICT, and agriculture.
Sudhir, with a net worth estimated at $1.2–$1.6 billion, reflected on his extraordinary journey — from exile under Idi Amin and working as a taxi driver in the UK, to returning home in the 1980s and creating one of East Africa’s largest conglomerates.
The Ruparelia Group began with a modest forex bureau and has since grown into a diverse empire with over 300 real estate holdings, landmark hotels such as Speke Resort Munyonyo and Kabira Country Club, alongside investments in education, insurance, and floriculture. The group today employs thousands and contributes heavily to Uganda’s GDP.
His remarks came against the backdrop of Uganda’s positive economic indicators — 6.3% GDP growth, 3.8% inflation, and $3.7 billion in foreign direct investment. Sudhir urged UK investors to tap into emerging opportunities in oil, agritech, and tourism, stressing Uganda’s position as a gateway to the 1.4 billion-strong African market under the AfCFTA.
The summit also examined digital trade and infrastructure cooperation. Sudhir’s resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and philanthropic work through the Ruparelia Foundation were held up as proof of Uganda’s bright future as a regional investment hub.
