Sudhir Ruparelia Named Uganda’s Top Honorary Consul General

By Gad Masereka

Kampala, Uganda: H.E. Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, the Nepalese Honorary Consul General to Uganda, has been recognized as the Best Honorary Consul General in the country, a distinction earned through years of promoting trade, cultural exchange, and investment between Uganda and Nepal.

The accolade follows a three-month national survey conducted by Public Opinions International, in which Ugandans praised his efforts in creating bilateral trade opportunities and employment for Ugandans abroad.

Dr Ruparelia, who assumed the diplomatic role in March 2020 after being appointed by Nepal’s then-President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, formally opened Nepal’s first consulate in Kampala at Crane Chambers.

Since then, he has been instrumental in deepening economic and cultural ties between the two nations, while also advancing educational initiatives that connect Ugandan students with opportunities in Nepal.

In September 2025, Dr Ruparelia organized a public celebration of Nepal’s Constitution Day in Kampala. The event highlighted his dedication to fostering cultural understanding and building bridges between the two countries, reflecting a diplomacy that extends beyond trade and investment.

While his diplomatic achievements are widely celebrated, Dr Ruparelia is equally renowned in Uganda’s business sector. As Chairman of the Ruparelia Group, his conglomerate encompasses real estate, education, hospitality, and insurance, with a portfolio of more than 200 properties nationwide.

Major ventures include the Speke Group of Hotels, Crane Management Services, Victoria University, Kampala Parents School, Sanyu FM, and Premier Roses Limited.

His contributions have earned him multiple honors, including the title of Certified Uganda Development Champion in 2019 for advancing Uganda Vision 2040 and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

He has also received an Honorary Doctor of Laws in Business from Uganda Pentecostal University, recognizing his economic impact on the country.

Born in Kabatoro, Kasese District, Dr Ruparelia returned from exile in the United Kingdom in 1985 with a modest US$25,000 and founded Crane Forex Bureau, Uganda’s first licensed foreign exchange bureau.

From these beginnings, he built one of East Africa’s most influential business empires, now estimated at US$4 billion, while combining his entrepreneurial pursuits with public service and international diplomacy.

The recent recognition as Uganda’s leading Honorary Consul General underscores a career that bridges commerce, culture, and diplomacy, cementing Dr Ruparelia’s role as a transformative figure in both Uganda’s domestic development and its global engagement.