Apart from huge investment in the tourism sector, Sudhir Ruparelia, wife Jyotsna, daughters Meera and Sheena, and his grandchildren, have officially named a seven-month-old infant chimpanzee “RR”—short for Rajiv Ruparelia expressing love,care and generosity for Chimpanzee and other primates.
The naming ceremony served as a living tribute to Sudhir’s son, Rajiv, the former Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group, who tragically passed away in a car accident in May 2025.
Rajiv was a fiery champion of Ugandan wildlife, a man who believed those blessed with commercial opportunity carried an absolute duty to protect the vulnerable. Along with the naming of baby RR, the family, through the Ruparelia Foundation, handed over a UGX 50 million cheque to the sanctuary to ensure the care, rehabilitation, and feeding of the island’s orphaned primates.
“By naming this chimpanzee in his honour, we are not only remembering Rajiv,” Sudhir noted softly during the visit. “We are extending his spirit of care, kindness, generosity, and responsibility into the future.”
Through their sprawling business conglomerate, they dominate nearly every major touchpoint of the traveler’s journey.
On the mainland shores, the iconic Speke Resort and Convention Centre in Munyonyo stands as the undisputed hub of Uganda’s high-level international diplomacy and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism. In downtown Kampala, their footprints cover the pulse of the city’s premium lifestyle—from the upscale rooms of Boulevard Suites and Speke Apartments to high-end events, elite catering, and curated food and wine experiences that attract regional and global travelers.
Sudhir Ruparelia has been a critical pillar for conservation institutions like the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe (popularly known as the Entebbe Zoo) and Ngamba Island.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and tourism collapsed overnight, Uganda’s wildlife sanctuaries faced a quiet, terrifying starvation crisis. It was Sudhir who stepped forward with millions of shillings to purchase food for the animals. Decades ago, he even bought the very land on which a portion of the Ngamba sanctuary sits and donated it to the trust. The family’s partnership with the island runs so deep that nearly ten years ago, they adopted another chimp, naming him “Rupa.”
This commitment extends across species; one of Rajiv’s proudest moments was seeing a young rhino at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary named “Rae Ruparelia,” after his own daughter.
By linking Uganda’s glitziest entertainment, fine dining, and elite hospitality directly to the survival of the country’s most vulnerable species, the Ruparelias have redefined what it means to be a tourism stakeholder.
For the Ruparelia family, conservation is clearly no longer just a corporate social responsibility checkbox—it is a deeply personal family mandate passed down through the generations. As the young chimp RR swings through the canopy of Ngamba Island, backed by the family’s financial protection, it stands as a testament to a powerful reality: the same family hosting Uganda’s grandest conferences and finest nightlife is ensuring that the country’s oldest wild lineages still have a home.
His Paradise Island Resort 19-acre eco-luxury retreat, is redefining tourism in Uganda with its blend of opulence, sustainability, and natural beauty.
Paradise Island Resort stands out as a haven for nature lovers, honeymooners, and retreat-seekers. This feature explores the resort’s features, development, significance, and what visitors and experts are saying about it.
Paradise Island Resort offers a seamless fusion of luxury and environmental consciousness. Surrounded by a rocky island teeming with lush trees and diverse bird species, it’s a paradise for birdwatchers and eco-tourists.
