Motorsport Community Gets Green Light to Hold Rajiv Memorial Drive at RR Pearl Tower One

By Gad Masereka 

The Ruparelia Group has granted permission for its flagship commercial property, RR Pearl Tower One, to serve as the official starting point for the Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Drive, a motorsport tribute event scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2026, marking exactly one year since the sudden and tragic death of Rajiv Ruparelia.

The decision to begin the drive at Pearl Tower One carries significant symbolic weight. The building, which stands among Kampala’s most prominent commercial landmarks, was renamed in Rajiv’s honour following his death, making it a natural and deeply personal gathering point for a community that shared his passion for motorsport and his vision for Uganda’s development.

The event, branded Remembering RR, is being organised by the motorsport fraternity in collaboration with the Ruparelia family. Rajiv, who was an avid motorsport enthusiast and a regular presence at Uganda’s competitive driving events, died on May 3, 2025, in a road accident that sent shockwaves through Uganda’s business and motorsport communities.

Organisers confirmed that participants would assemble at RR Pearl Tower One before driving in convoy to Speke Resort Munyonyo, where the tribute events would conclude. The route was chosen to reflect Rajiv’s deep connection to Kampala’s business landscape while honouring his love for the open road.

Sudhir Ruparelia, chairman of the Ruparelia Group and Rajiv’s father, said granting the use of Pearl Tower One for this occasion was a way of ensuring that the legacy of his son was carried forward in the places and spaces that defined his life. The tower is one of the most visible reminders of that legacy, and having the memorial drive begin there gave the tribute an authenticity and meaning that the family felt deeply.

The Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Drive is expected to attract hundreds of participants from Uganda’s motorsport community and beyond, with family, friends, business associates and admirers invited to take part in what organisers describe as a celebration of life rather than a mourning of loss. For a community shaped by Rajiv’s infectious energy and generosity, the drive represents both a farewell and a promise to keep his spirit moving forward.