By Grace M

As Uganda celebrated Labour Day 2025, I felt deeply honored to express my gratitude to a man who changed my life and the lives of so many others, my boss, Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, Chairman of the Ruparelia Group.

In a country where finding stable employment often felt like searching for water in a desert, Dr. Sudhir stood out as a beacon of hope. He created opportunities that allowed people like me to build a future with dignity.

I joined Speke Resort Munyonyo two years ago as a front desk receptionist, a job I had never imagined I would have. Growing up in a small village in Mukono, I watched many of my friends struggle to find work after finishing school.

Youth unemployment in Uganda had long been a serious challenge. News reports frequently highlighted how difficult it was for young people to secure decent jobs, with unemployment rates hovering around 13–14% in recent years.

I feared I might end up selling vegetables by the roadside, barely making ends meet. But then I learned about openings at Speke Resort—one of Dr. Sudhir’s flagship properties and my life took a new turn.

Working at Speke Resort Munyonyo had been nothing short of a dream come true. Situated along the beautiful shores of Lake Victoria, the resort was more than just a hotel—it was a hub of opportunity. I worked alongside chefs, gardeners, security guards, and event planners—all of us proud members of the Ruparelia Group family.

I came to learn that Dr. Sudhir’s companies directly employed over 10,000 Ugandans—a number that filled me with pride. That meant 10,000 families with food on the table, children in school, and dreams within reach. And this didn’t even account for the thousands more who benefited indirectly, like the taxi drivers who brought guests to the resort, or the farmers who supplied our kitchens.

Dr. Sudhir’s impact extended far beyond just creating jobs. He built a workplace where we felt valued and empowered. At Speke Resort, I received training in customer service, learned to use booking systems, and even improved my English—all skills that I knew would serve me for life.

When the resort hosted the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in 2024, I had the privilege of welcoming guests from all over the world. I never forgot the pride I felt knowing that my workplace, built by Dr. Sudhir, was showcasing Uganda on the global stage.

In a country where employment opportunities remained scarce, Dr. Sudhir had been a true trailblazer. I heard stories about how he started with just $25,000 in the 1980s and went on to build the Ruparelia Group into one of East Africa’s largest conglomerates.

From real estate to schools like Kampala Parents’ School, and even flower farms like Rosebud Ltd., his businesses touched countless lives. I had a cousin who worked at Rosebud, packing flowers for export. She often told me how her job helped her pay for her children’s education. That was the ripple effect of Dr. Sudhir’s vision—lifting entire communities through enterprise.

What inspired me most was that Dr. Sudhir continued to invest in Uganda. He could have taken his wealth elsewhere, but he chose to grow his businesses here at home. Just this year, I heard that the Ruparelia Group expanded, creating more jobs at Kabira Country Club and other properties. For someone like me, who had known the pain of unemployment, that meant everything. It wasn’t just about having a job—it was about dignity, hope, and a future.

On Labour Day, I felt compelled to say thank you to Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia for being a true patriot of enterprise. He proved that one person’s vision could change thousands of lives. As I stood at the front desk of Speke Resort Munyonyo, smiling at every guest who walked through our doors, I was constantly reminded that this job—and the life it had given me—was because of him.

He wasn’t just my boss; he was a hero to workers across Uganda. May his legacy of job creation continue to grow, and may many more Ugandans find the opportunities I was so blessed to receive.

Happy Labour Day, Sir, from a grateful heart.

The writer was a Front Desk Receptionist at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala.