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Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, one of Uganda’s most prominent businessmen, traces his roots to the remote town of Kabatoro in Kasese District, nestled within Queen Elizabeth National Park.
A fourth-generation Indian-Uganda, Ruparelia was born in 1956. His early years were shaped by the rugged beauty and wildlife of the area.
“In Kabatoro town, there were about seven buildings, and it was right in the middle of the game park,” he recalls. “It was quite common for animals to come to the town and sit in the middle of the road, including lions and elephants.”
“There was one group of elephants which came every night at 10pm, looking for food in the garbage bins. One night, they came and the bins were empty and the elephants got angry and knocked down our wall.”
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Sudhir’s parents operated a trading shop in Kabatoro and a canteen at Mweya Safari Lodge, supplying essentials like tea, sugar, and clothing to lodge workers and tourists alike.
“My parents often lent the lodge workers money, and at the end of the month, after they got their salaries, they would pay back,” he recalled
The family lived modestly, with Sudhir noting, “We had about four pairs of clothes a year. I still think we were happy to get it.”
At the age of five or six, Sudhir was sent to boarding school in Kampala due to the lack of quality education in Kabatoro. The journey was arduous, involving eight-hour trips atop lorries transporting salt from Lake Katwe to Kampala. “By the time you reached Kampala, you were full of dust,” he reminisces.
Exile and Determination
In 1972, President Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of Asians from Uganda. Sudhir’s parents left within the first 30 days, but he chose to stay behind at 17. Realising he couldn’t manage alone, he departed on the final day, 5th November 1972, joining his family in the UK.
In Britain, Sudhir undertook various casual jobs in factories, supermarkets, and butcheries to support himself through A-levels.
By 1975, he had saved enough to purchase his first house in the UK. “I made some good money and bought my first house in the UK as early as 1975,” he stated.
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Return and Rise to Prominence
In 1985, with $25,000 saved from his time in the UK, Sudhir returned to Uganda, eager to rebuild his life.
He began by importing beer and spirits from Kenya, establishing himself as a leading distributor in Kampala.
However, when the Ugandan government banned beer imports in 1989 to promote local brewing, Sudhir pivoted. Recognising the demand for foreign exchange services, he founded Crane Forex Bureau, Uganda’s first licensed forex bureau.
Building on this success, Sudhir launched Crane Bank in 1995, which grew to become one of Uganda’s leading financial institutions.
Over the years, he diversified his investments, establishing the Ruparelia Group, a conglomerate with interests in real estate, education, hospitality, and more. Today, the group owns over 200 properties across Uganda.
Reflecting on his journey, Sudhir attributes his success to resilience and adaptability.
“No challenge would stop the business enthusiastic Ruparelia,” he asserts. From humble beginnings in Kabatoro to becoming Uganda’s richest man, Dr Sudhir Ruparelia’s story is a testament to determination and vision.