At the recently concluded 15th UK-Africa Business, Trade & Investment Summit in London, prominent Ugandan businessman and real estate magnate Sudhir Ruparelia made a compelling appeal for increased investment in Uganda. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Sudhir—Chairman of the Ruparelia Group—outlined real estate, agriculture, hospitality, and tourism as the backbone sectors of Uganda’s rapidly growing economy.
“Uganda is our home, and as a family, we’ve committed to investing here,” Sudhir said. “The opportunities in real estate are booming, agriculture is full of potential, and the hospitality and tourism sectors are showing consistent growth. Now is the time to take part in transforming our economy.”
The summit, held on September 12 at The Royal Horseguards Hotel, gathered more than 300 key players, including government ministers, business executives, and representatives from global institutions such as the World Bank. The event focused on enhancing trade relations between the UK and Africa in the post-Brexit era.
Uganda’s official delegation was led by First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga and Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, who promoted Uganda’s investment prospects in energy, ICT, and agribusiness.
Sudhir also reflected on his personal journey—from being forced into exile during Idi Amin’s regime and working humble jobs in the UK, to returning to Uganda in the 1980s and building a diverse business empire. Starting with a single foreign exchange bureau, the Ruparelia Group has since grown into a conglomerate with interests spanning real estate, hospitality, education, insurance, and horticulture. The Group owns over 300 properties and employs thousands, playing a major role in Uganda’s private sector development.
With his net worth estimated between $1.2 and $1.6 billion, Sudhir encouraged UK investors to explore Uganda’s growing sectors, particularly in oil and gas, agritech, and tourism. He emphasized Uganda’s strategic location and its role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which provides access to a market of 1.4 billion people.
Uganda is currently enjoying stable economic growth, with a GDP increase of 6.3%, low inflation at 3.8%, and foreign direct investment reaching $3.7 billion. The summit also spotlighted innovation in digital trade and infrastructure, with Sudhir’s story—marked by resilience, vision, and philanthropic work through the Ruparelia Foundation—offering a powerful endorsement of Uganda as a thriving destination for investment.