More than 80 vehicles traveled through the streets of Kampala on Sunday during a memorial procession to mark one year since the death of businessman and rally driver Rajiv Ruparelia. The event combined remembrance, charity, and motorsport in honor of his legacy.
The tribute, organized under the theme “Remembering RR,” drew family members, rally drivers, business associates, and supporters. They participated in two major activities: a prosthetic limb outreach at Mulago National Referral Hospital and a memorial convoy that ended with a candlelight vigil at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Rajiv Ruparelia, Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group and the only son of businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, died on May 3, 2025, after a tragic accident at the Busabala Flyover along the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway. His Nissan GT-R reportedly lost control, overturned after hitting temporary barriers, and caught fire.
The day’s activities began in the morning at Mulago Hospital’s Orthopaedics Department, where the Ruparelia Foundation donated 41 prosthetic limbs to individuals in need. The donation was officially received by Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, who noted that Uganda sees over 15,000 new amputee cases each year, making this private-sector support very important.
One beneficiary, John Kintu, expressed gratitude after getting a new prosthetic limb, saying the support had restored his independence and ability to move freely again.
Later in the afternoon, the memorial convoy left from RR Pearl Tower One on Yusuf Lule Road, a building built in Rajiv’s honor. Organized by TT Drags and Drifts Uganda under the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of Uganda, the procession passed through various parts of the city, including Jinja Road, Entebbe Road, and Nsambya, before stopping at Busabala Roundabout, where participants laid flowers near the accident site.
The procession continued to Speke Resort Munyonyo, where a candlelight vigil was held that evening. Family members, rally drivers, friends, and supporters came together in quiet reflection as they lit candles in Rajiv’s memory.
Charles Kakaire, president of the Street Racers Club Uganda, thanked the Ruparelia family for allowing the motorsport community to celebrate Rajiv’s life and contributions to racing.
Stuart Kimera, the chair of the organizing committee, described Rajiv as a person whose impact went beyond motorsport into humanitarian work and community support.
During the vigil, Sudhir Ruparelia led a procession of rally drivers into the marina gardens for the final remembrance ceremony.
Among the guests was Charity Kamuhanda Kibaaju, who praised Rajiv’s humanitarian spirit and called his death a significant loss for the country.
In a statement marking the anniversary, Sudhir and Jyotsna Ruparelia reflected on their year of grief, describing the pain of losing a child as a silent burden carried every day. They also thanked Ugandans for the support and compassion shown to their family during this difficult time.
Before his death, Rajiv Ruparelia was an active figure in Uganda’s motorsport scene, competing in events like the Kayunga Autocross, Kalangala Rally, Mbarara Rally, and Kabalega Rally. He founded the Rajiv Ruparelia Rally Team and served as patron of the Central Motorsport Club, where he helped connect professional motorsport and grassroots racing communities.
The memorial activities are part of a broader series of tributes held over the past year in his honor. These include a National Rally Championship round dedicated to his memory in Gulu and several charitable initiatives by the Ruparelia Foundation, including medical and eye-care outreach programs.
The Ruparelia Group, where Rajiv played a key leadership role, remains one of East Africa’s largest business groups with investments in banking, education, hospitality, real estate, insurance, and floriculture.
