Sudhir Honored With Silverback Award for Transforming Uganda’s Tourism, Hospitality Industry

Business magnate and Ruparelia Group chairman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia has been presented with the prestigious Silverback Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Uganda’s tourism and hospitality industry, further cementing his standing as one of the country’s most influential private-sector figures.

The award was presented at the Uganda Tourism Association’s Annual Tourism Banquet, held at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, where industry leaders, tourism operators and policymakers gathered to honour individuals and organisations judged to have made an exceptional contribution to the growth of Uganda’s tourism sector.

The recognition points to decades of investment in world-class hospitality infrastructure, destination development and tourism promotion – initiatives that have strengthened the country’s ability to attract both leisure and business travellers over an extended period.

Through the Ruparelia Group, Dr. Ruparelia has assembled one of the country’s largest privately owned hospitality portfolios, comprising well-known establishments including Speke Resort Munyonyo, Speke Hotel Kampala, Kabira Country Club, Forest Cottages and Dolphin Suites, among other properties that have become fixtures of Uganda’s tourism landscape.

These investments have played a central role in expanding the country’s accommodation capacity, generating thousands of jobs, and supporting the rapid growth of conference tourism, a segment that continues to position Uganda as a preferred venue for international meetings, conventions and exhibitions.

Speke Resort Munyonyo in particular has become one of East Africa’s premier conference venues, having hosted continental summits, international business forums, diplomatic engagements and sporting events.

Industry figures at the ceremony described the award as fitting recognition for a businessman whose investments have consistently strengthened the tourism ecosystem, with one attendee calling his impact on the sector “truly remarkable” and predicting the legacy would endure.

Another guest described the honour as well deserved, pointing to the internationally competitive facilities his investments have created alongside employment and skills development opportunities for Ugandans.

Beyond hospitality, Dr. Ruparelia’s wider investments in real estate, education, finance, insurance, media and agriculture were cited by tourism stakeholders as part of a broader contribution to the country’s economic transformation, with the Silverback Award seen as reflecting both his investment record and his long-term commitment to infrastructure that keeps drawing visitors and revenue to Uganda.

Send Us Your Story

If you would like your article or opinion published on The New Light Paper, one of Uganda’s trusted news platforms, send your submission to thenewlightpaper@gmail.com.