By Joseph Kiggundu
KAMPALA.
A sober mood engulfed relatives, friends and business associates of fallen city businessman Rajiv Ruparelia as his remains were being cremated in Lugogo ,a Kampala City suburb.
The ceremony for his final sendoff started around 11:am with Uganda Funeral Services hearse removing his remains from Mulago Hospital mortuary where it was kept since last weekend .They took a ride through some city streets to his father Sudhir Ruparelia’s palatial residence in upscale Kololo , about a kilometer away from Hundu Crematorium site . Relatives and friends riding posh cars -some used in motor sport , big bikes were part of the convoy that snaked through the city streets accompanied by boda boda riders .
Two hours later , the convey arrived at the crematorium gate in Lugogo,where was a group of young men in donning white T-shirts who solemnly lifted Rajiv’s casket from the hearse and placed it at a designated place for hundreds of mourners to pay their last respects .
Speaker of Parliament Mr Anita Among who delivered President Museveni’s condolence message praised Rajiv for his role in national development through his leadership in the Ruparelia Group.
Rajiv’s mother Jyotsna Ruparelia in her heartfelt tribute said : “Rajiv may have been known as Sudhir’s son, but in these past few days, we’ve seen that he had carved out his own legacy,” said. “Rajiv, I’m so proud of you.”
In a statement, the Ruparelia Group said:
“We are heartbroken beyond words. Rajiv was not only a son, brother, and husband—he was a visionary leader, a friend to many, and a rising force in Uganda’s business landscape.”
After the speeches, fire was lit and the cremation process kicked off. Just like that , Rajiv was put to his resting place as the Hundu culture dictates .
Rajiv,35 the only son of Ugandan property magnet and investor Sudhir Ruparelia suddenly died in an early Saturday morning (May 3,2025) car crash at the Busabala Flyover traffic lights along the Southern Bypass connecting to Entebbe Expressway in Makindye-Ssabagabo, Wakiso District.
He was driving his Nissan GTR motor vehicle with Registration Number UAT 638L which reportedly hit temporary pavements that were installed at the roundabout section of the flyover and lost control forcing the car to overturn and later caught fire .
Rajiv was driving from Kajjansi towards Munyonyo when the crash happened, according to traffic police .On the same day , Saturday , Rajiv was scheduled to attend the wedding of his friend Jonathan Bahizi Buteera, son of former Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera.