Sudhir, Family Rally Kampala Behind Rajiv Memorial Drive Ahead of May 3 Tribute

By Gad Masereka

As the first anniversary of the death of Rajiv Ruparelia draws closer, his father, businessman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, and the wider family have thrown themselves into rallying Kampala behind a memorial drive that promises to be one of the city’s most emotionally resonant public gatherings in recent memory.

The tribute, branded Remembering RR, is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2026, the exact date that marks one year since Rajiv died in a road accident that left Uganda’s business and motorsport communities in collective grief. The family’s call to participate has drawn an enthusiastic response from across Kampala, with hundreds of people expected to join the drive that will begin at RR Pearl Tower One and conclude at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

In an emotional appeal shared widely on social media, Sudhir and his wife Jyotsna Ruparelia described the memorial drive as a celebration of Rajiv’s life and a collective act of love by everyone whose world he touched. They spoke of a young man who gave generously, lived fully and left behind a legacy that could not be contained in a single day of remembrance but would continue to grow through the lives he had changed.

Jyotsna said the outpouring of support from Ugandans in the days leading up to the event had been both comforting and humbling. She noted that Rajiv had a rare ability to make people feel seen and valued, and the response to the memorial drive was a reflection of how deeply that gift had been received by those around him.

Organisers say the drive is open to all Ugandans regardless of their connection to motorsport, and participants are encouraged to come on foot, by bicycle, motorcycle or vehicle. The route from Pearl Tower One to Munyonyo passes through some of Kampala’s most familiar streets, giving the tribute a public character that the family hopes will turn the anniversary into a day of shared joy rather than private sorrow.

For a city that watched Rajiv grow and flourish, May 3, 2026 offers an opportunity to honour not just a life lost but a spirit that continues to shape Uganda’s landscape in the buildings that bear his initials, the communities touched by his family’s philanthropy, and the memories carried by all who knew him.