Businessman Rajiv Ruparelia cremated

At 11:20 a.m. on Tuesday, a convoy of Uganda Funeral Services hearses carrying the body of city businessman Rajiv Ruparelia arrived at his father Sudhir Ruparelia’s Kololo residence. It was a brief, emotional stopover before the final journey to the Hindu cremation grounds in Lugogo.

The body lay in state for nearly two hours as family, close friends, and mourners gathered to pay their respects. At around 1:30 p.m., two black hearses departed the residence, with Mr. Sudhir Ruparelia seated in the front passenger seat, visibly emotional and clutching a container emitting white smoke. His wife, Jyotsna, was seated in the rear.

Moments before departure, an unidentified man scattered flower petals over the hearses and the road. Outside the residence, two of Rajiv’s rally cars stood parked—one bearing the plate “Big Mama” and the other marked with his name and that of his navigator, E. Olinga B+.

The procession moved slowly through Kira Road, Mulago Roundabout, and Nakasero, eventually joining Kampala and Jinja roads. A stream of private vehicles, bikers, and boda bodas followed the convoy, bringing traffic in parts of the city to a standstill as onlookers paused to witness the somber sight.

The route passed several Ruparelia Group landmarks, including Crane Chambers, Boulevard Plaza, and Victoria University. At Wampewo Roundabout, the convoy made a brief stop at Speke Apartments, where a group of Subaru drivers joined the final leg to Lugogo.

At the crematorium entrance, young men in white T-shirts gently lifted the coffin from the hearse and placed it at a viewing area for final respects. Hindu rites were conducted before the actual cremation began.

Rajiv Ruparelia, 34, died in a tragic car crash on May 3 when his vehicle overturned and caught fire at the Busabala interchange on the Entebbe Expressway. Preliminary police reports point to speeding and loss of control, though investigations are ongoing.

The private cremation ceremony was attended by close family members and selected friends, under tight security. Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, delivering a message from President Museveni, praised Rajiv for his role in national development through his leadership in the Ruparelia Group.

“Rajiv may have been known as Sudhir’s son, but in these past few days, we’ve seen that he had carved out his own legacy,” said Jyotsna Ruparelia in a heartfelt tribute. “Rajiv, I’m so proud of you.”

In a statement, the Ruparelia Group said: “We are heartbroken beyond words. Rajiv was not only a son, brother, and husband—he was a visionary leader, a friend to many, and a rising force in Uganda’s business landscape.”

Born in 1990, Rajiv was being prepared to take over leadership of the Ruparelia Group, one of Uganda’s largest business empires with investments in real estate, education, finance, and hospitality. As managing director, he had led projects such as the expansion of Kampala Parents School and the development of Kingdom Kampala and Speke Apartments.

A passionate rally driver, Rajiv was a well-known figure in Uganda’s motorsport circles. His fellow drivers and fans took to social media to mourn his passing.

At the cremation site, his wife Naiya described him as “the light of my life—a man of courage, compassion, and deep conviction.”

Rajiv is survived by his wife Naiya, his parents Sudhir and Jyotsna, and his sister Meera.

A public memorial is expected later this week to allow well-wishers and associates to pay their final respects. Police say a full report on the accident will be released after ongoing investigations are concluded.