Ruparelia Group’s Paradise Island Resort on Lake Victoria Set to Open in June After Years of Construction

By Gad Masereka 

The Ruparelia Group is putting finishing touches to one of the most ambitious private tourism investments in Uganda’s history, with the Paradise Island Resort on Lake Victoria approaching readiness for a June opening that developers say will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s luxury hospitality sector.

Construction activity on the 19-acre private island, located approximately 20 minutes by speedboat from Speke Resort Munyonyo, has intensified as workers race toward the target timeline. Among the most notable features nearing completion is a 500-metre man-made beach, with excavation finished and the final phase now focused on transporting and spreading sand along the shoreline to create a distinctive waterfront leisure space.

The resort, developed by businessman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, will offer a range of accommodation designed to maximise the natural beauty of the lake setting: standard cottages, cliff-hanger cottages, deluxe two-bedroom cottages and executive villas, each positioned to take full advantage of the panoramic water views that the island affords. A custom-built barge has been deployed to support the final stages of construction, handling the movement of materials to and from the island.

Project insiders say the June opening will mark the start of phased operations, with selected facilities made available to guests while construction on additional components continues. The phased approach allows the resort to begin receiving visitors and generating revenue without waiting for every element of the development to be fully complete.

For the Ruparelia Group, the Paradise Island Resort extends a hospitality portfolio that already includes Speke Resort Munyonyo and represents a deliberate move into the ultra-premium segment of Uganda’s tourism market. The development is designed to attract both domestic high-income travellers and international visitors looking for exclusive island experiences that combine natural beauty with world-class amenities.

Tourism officials have pointed to investments of this nature as critical to diversifying Uganda’s tourism offering beyond wildlife and positioning the country as a destination capable of competing for the high-spending leisure traveller. With completion in sight and the June timeline holding, the Paradise Island Resort is set to be among the most significant openings in East Africa’s hospitality calendar this year.