City businessman and philanthropist Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia and his daughter, Sheena Ruparelia, were among the top awardees of nationalmedals on the 39th NRM/A Victory Day Anniversary Celebrations in Mubende.
Dr. Sudhir was awarded the Distinguished Order of the Crested Crane (Grand Officer) medal by President Yoweri Museveni in recognition of his outstanding service, dedication, and contribution to Uganda’s development.
The citation for Dr. Sudhri’s award highlights his remarkable journey from a refugee to a successful businessman and investor.
Born on January 17, 1956, in Kampala, Sudhir moved to the United Kingdom as a refugee and worked multiple jobs before purchasing his first house at the age of 20.
In 1985, he returned to Uganda with $25,000 in savings and established the Ruparelia Group, which has grown into a multi-sector conglomerate with interests in real estate, financial services, education, hospitality, agriculture, and media.
The Ruparelia Group employs over 10,000 people directly and is one of Uganda’s largest taxpayers. Sudhri’s philanthropic efforts, through the Ruparelia Foundation, have focused on healthcare, education, wildlife conservation, and poverty alleviation.
Sudhri’s business ventures have significantly contributed to Uganda’s economy. His Meera Investments Ltd is the largest property developer in Uganda, while Rosebud Ltd is the country’s leading exporter of flowers.
His education investments include Kampala International School, Kampala Parents’ School, Victoria University, and Delhi Public School International.
Sheena Ruparelia, Sudhri’s daughter, was also awarded a medal for her role in supervising the construction of the Speke Convention Centre, which hosted the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and G77+ China Summits.
The awards were presented by President Museveni on January 26, 2025, in Mubende District, during the 39th NRM/A Victory Day Anniversary Celebrations.
