Ruparelia Group Chairman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia has shared a personal account of his early life in Uganda, recalling his childhood near Queen Elizabeth National Park, dramatic encounters with wildlife, and the painful experience of leaving the country during the 1972 expulsion of Asians under the regime of former President Idi Amin.

Speaking during an interview with Pan African Pyramid (PAP) founder Andrew Irumba Katusabe at Crane Chambers, Ruparelia described himself as a fourth-generation Ugandan, highlighting his family’s history in East Africa that stretches back more than a century.

He explained that his great-grandfather arrived in Mombasa in 1897 before the family later settled in Uganda. His father was born in Kampala in 1932, while Sudhir himself was born at Nakasero Hospital in 1956.
“We have called Uganda home for four generations,” Ruparelia said, underscoring the deep connection his family has maintained with the country.

Raised in Katwe-Kabatoro in Kasese District, close to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ruparelia said wildlife was an everyday part of life. Elephants, buffaloes, hippos, antelopes and lions frequently wandered near homes and businesses, creating unforgettable childhood memories.

One incident that has remained with him involved elephants that regularly visited the family’s compound at night in search of food leftovers. On one occasion, when no food waste had been discarded because his mother was away, the elephants reportedly became frustrated and damaged part of the family’s home.
He also recalled a tense encounter inside the national park when his father’s Volkswagen broke down just metres from a pride of about 20 lions.

As the family anxiously tried to restart the vehicle, the lions remained nearby. After several tense moments, the engine finally came back to life, allowing them to escape unharmed.

Despite living alongside wildlife, Ruparelia said his upbringing was grounded in hard work and education. His family operated a shop and petrol station in Kabatoro, while ensuring their children attended good schools.

He began boarding school in Kampala at the age of five before later studying in Jinja and returning to Kampala for secondary education.

His education, however, was interrupted in 1972 when Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of Uganda’s Asian community.
Ruparelia said he was determined to remain in Uganda for as long as possible because it was the only country he had ever known. Holding a Ugandan passport, he hoped circumstances would change before the expiry of the government’s 90-day ultimatum.

As the deadline approached and thousands of families departed, he eventually accepted that he also had to leave.

On November 5, 1972, at just 16 years old, he boarded one of the last flights out of Uganda.

Before departing, Ruparelia used money left behind by his parents not only to arrange his own travel but also to help other families who lacked the means to leave the country. He said he paid for airline tickets for several people, including a family of five, believing that supporting those in need was a moral responsibility.

His departure marked the beginning of a new life in the United Kingdom, where he rebuilt from scratch before eventually returning to Uganda.

Years later, Ruparelia would establish one of East Africa’s largest privately owned business empires through the Ruparelia Group, with investments spanning real estate, banking, hospitality, education, insurance and agriculture.

His reflections form part of the Pan African Pyramid interview series, which explores his personal journeyfrom growing up in Uganda and life as a refugee in London to returning home and building a business empire while contributing to Uganda’s economic development.