Sudhir Ruparelia Acquires New Barge To Ease Logistics For Paradise Island Resort

Ugandan businessman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia has acquired a new flat-bottomed barge to support the development of his latest project, Paradise Island Resort, an eco-luxury retreat set to open later this year on Lake Victoria.

The vessel, spotted cruising from Jinja toward Speke Resort Munyonyo in a video that quickly circulated online, is designed to transport goods between the mainland and the 19-acre island where construction is in its final stages.

Painted in a bright red hue and fitted with foldable ramps, numbered loading zones, and a safety system complete with life jacket requirements and restricted access, the barge represents a strategic investment in logistics.

Officials involved with the project say it will primarily carry construction materials, food supplies, and equipment, reducing the current dependence on smaller boats. By consolidating transport, the vessel is expected to lower costs, ease delays, and minimize environmental risks to the lake.

Paradise Island Resort, located a short ride from Munyonyo, is scheduled to open in November 2025. Plans for the property include ten standard cottages, eleven cliff-hanger units perched above the water, fourteen deluxe two-bedroom cottages, and three exclusive villas. Designed as a retreat that merges high-end hospitality with environmental stewardship, the resort aims to position Uganda more firmly on the global luxury tourism map.

The project is part of the broader vision of the Ruparelia Group, which has for decades invested in Uganda’s hospitality sector. Speke Resort Munyonyo, developed under Dr. Ruparelia’s leadership in the 1990s, has become a premier convention and leisure destination in East Africa.

The new resort is being marketed as both an expansion of that legacy and a response to the growing demand for sustainable, eco-friendly travel experiences.

While lakefront developments have at times attracted concern from environmental campaigners, project managers insist the construction and logistics are being carried out under the oversight of the National Environment Management Authority. “This is more than a transport solution; it is part of creating a seamless luxury experience that respects the environment,” a spokesperson for the Ruparelia Group said when asked about the new barge.

Tourism analysts suggest that beyond supporting the resort’s logistics, the barge could stimulate maritime employment and contribute to a more organized supply chain on Lake Victoria.

For Uganda, the development signals both an expansion of private investment in tourism and an effort to balance growth with conservation, a balance that will be tested as the resort welcomes its first guests in the coming months.