Ruparelia Group chairman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia has outlined the principles he says have sustained his diversified business interests, placing employment, tax compliance, disciplined management and personal commitment at the centre of his business philosophy.

Speaking during a discussion at Crane Chambers, Ruparelia said his group employs more than 10,000 people across real estate, hospitality, education, floriculture and leisure, arguing that private investment continues to play an important role in creating opportunities and expanding Uganda’s economy.

“I’m employing over ten thousand people,” Ruparelia said.

He said entrepreneurs of Asian origin had made substantial investments in Uganda and should be viewed through their contribution to job creation, industrial growth and national revenue.

Ruparelia also pointed to tax compliance as a fundamental responsibility of every business operating in the country.

“As a citizen of the country, it is my obligation to pay taxes,” he said.

According to him, one company within his business group pays about Shs2.5b in Value Added Tax every month, while its annual corporation tax contribution is estimated at about Shs30b. He also said the group’s real estate interests contribute more than Shs12b in taxes, in addition to between Shs9b and Shs10b in VAT obligations.

Beyond these taxes, he said the businesses remit withholding taxes, statutory employee deductions and other charges required by government.

Ruparelia attributed the management of such a wide range of investments to strong financial controls and professional structures that clearly separate responsibilities.

He said every business requires competent people to handle specialised roles, noting that education institutions, for example, function best when administrators focus on teaching and school management while qualified finance teams oversee budgets and accounting.

The businessman also linked his success to investing in areas that genuinely interest him, arguing that passion helps entrepreneurs remain committed even when businesses face difficult periods.

He pointed to changes in Uganda’s economy, including improved infrastructure, increased industrial activity and the growing presence of locally manufactured goods on supermarket shelves, as signs of continued economic transformation.

At 70, Ruparelia said he remains actively involved in his businesses and maintains a relatively simple lifestyle. He also serves as Nepal’s Honorary Consul in Uganda.

The discussion came as preparations continued for a planned commemoration of his late son Rajiv Ruparelia’s life and legacy on August 29 at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

For Ruparelia, the wider lesson from his business journey is that growth cannot depend on ambition alone. He says long term investment requires a combination of commitment, proper systems, professional management and the discipline to meet obligations to employees, customers and the state.

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