Trustees

DR. SUDHIR RUPARELIA - FOUNDER

Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia was born in Uganda and attended schools up to 1972, he then left for UK due to the expulsion of Asians.

After completing school, he joined various companies and worked as an Accountant. Returning to Uganda in 1985, he started to operate his own business. Over the years he developed a vibrant Forex business and gradually obtained a banking licence to start a private commercial bank, namely Crane Bank Limited in August, 1995...

With a view to creating a fully fledged financial services organization, he obtained a licence to set-up an Insurance Company — namely Goldstar Insurance Co. Ltd — which commenced operation in 1996. As a patriotic Ugandan-Asian, he continued to re-invest profits from business in Uganda and built the largest portfolio of properties in Uganda comprising of prime commercial, industrial and residential properties mainly in Kampala.
 At the opportune time, he commenced investing in the hotel, education, floriculture and leisure industries, culminating in the acquisition of Speke Hotel in July/August 1996, to which further additions have been made:

  • Speke  Resort, Munyonyo
  • Speke Apartments
  • Tourist Hotel
  • Kabira Country Club Ltd
  • Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort Ltd 
  • Kampala International School 
  • Kampala Parents' School 
  • Rosebud Ltd

He continued expanding the sphere of activities through further investment in Education, Media, horticulture and property development.

Further to the groups' support in Education KISU was first started about 20 years ago with 67 students and now educates over 600 children.

About 10 years back the group also started a Kindergarten and primary school teaching the UNEB syllabus and educating mainly around 2900 Ugandan students.

PROFILE: 

With the expansion of business interest in banking, Forex, insurance, financial services, hospitality leisure industry, real estate and development, and education, he started recruiting qualified personnel to manage, run, and supervise the day-to-day operations of the various business segments, but still actively involved in business to provide guidance and policy direction for the established businesses to continue growing. 
    

  • Currently the group employs over 6,000 employees, predominantly Ugandans, with a large proportion being women.
    
  • All business entities are regular and substantial supporters of various corporate social activities in sports, healthcare, arts and culture, heritage and religion.
   
  • Individually and as a family, participates in many philanthropic endeavours to alleviate poverty and hardship for the disadvantaged members of the community at large.

AWARDS: Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Uganda Pentecoastal University on 25th October 2007.

FOUNDER / CHAIRMAN:  RUPARELIA  FOUNDATION 

CURRENT BOARD POSITIONS:    

VICE CHAIRMAN: CRANE BANK LTD., 

CHAIRMAN: GOLDSTAR INSURANCE CO. LTD

SANYU FM (2000) LTD

CHAIRMAN/MANAGING DIRECTOR:

  1. KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 
  2. KAMPALA PARENTS SCHOOL
  3. ROSEBUD LTD
  4. MEERA INVESTMENTS LTD 
  5. SPEKE RESORT , MUNYONYO  
  6. TOURIST HOTEL

MRS. JYOTSNA RUPARELIA - CO FOUNDER

Jyotsna has been instrumental in the growth and expansion of the Ruparelia family business where she has actively participated in operations  and management.  She heads the grants division of the Foundation.

Her expertise is in foreign exchange operations and financial management. Jyotsna is well-known for her expert decision-making and management skills which have seen her successfully co-steered the various businesses to success.

She has experience working in management and control of foreign exchange operations which she got while working in the UK as a manager with Express Travel Bureau and as a trainee banker with Midland Banking in its foreign exchange department.

She is a director in several of the family's companies which include Crane Forex Bureau Ltd; Goldstar Insurance Co Ltd; Crane Management  Services Ltd; Meera Investments Ltd; Speke Hotel (1996) Ltd; Redfox Tours & Travels Ltd. She is also the company secretary of Karibu Forex Bureu Ltd.                              

MEERA RUPARELIA

Meera is responsible for overseeing wildlife welfare and environment conservation, a passion she shares with her father, Dr. Sudhir.

A graduate of City University in the UK, Meera’s area of interest is in conserving wildlife and the areas they live in.

She also works with a real estate holding company, Meera Investments, which manages over 300 properties in the country.

A British national, Meera was born on December 12, 1985 and is engaged to be married.

SHEENA RUPARELIA

Sheena is active in several foundation-related projects for children which include the construction of homes for child-led families, health awareness projects and provision of clean water.

Touched by the plight of disadvantaged children in a rural village she once visited, Sheena has been instrumental in changing the lives of the orphans she has met in several of the orphanages the foundation works with.

In addition, Sheena, who graduated from City University in the UK works with Crane Bank Ltd. She was born on December 23rd, 1988 and is a British national.

RAJIV RUPARELIA - DIRECTOR

Rajiv is in charge of the general welfare department at the Foundation and fervently works towards promoting sports in the country.

A graduate of Financial Management, Rajiv started his own business at the age of 17 and as one of the directors, continues to manage several family businesses.

Educated in the UK, Rajiv's heart has always been in his country of birth where he believes he can effect change by boosting the efforts of his compatriots whether through charity or job creation. He enjoys playing golf, rugby and fishing.

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