Just hours before the crash in the wee hours of Saturday, Rajiv, a renowned businessman, had shared a heartfelt photo of his child on social media – a tender moment that has deeply touched and saddened his friends, family, and followers.
According to Uganda Police Deputy Spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan Area Luke Owoyesigyire, the car crash that claimed the 35-year-old entrepreneur occurred at approximately 1:54am on May 3, along the Munyonyo-Entebbe-Expressway.
Born on January 2, 1990, Rajiv Ruparelia was the only son of business tycoon Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia.
A graduate in Financial Management from Regent’s University London, Rajiv returned to Uganda in 2014 and quickly ascended within the Ruparelia Group – one of the country’s largest privately owned conglomerates.
Appointed Managing Director in 2017, he was instrumental in steering several of the Group’s flagship developments, including Speke Apartments, Kingdom Kampala, and Kampala Boulevard.
Beyond the boardroom, Rajiv was an avid motorsport enthusiast. He founded the Rajiv Ruparelia Rally Team arid played a big role in revitalising the rallying sport in Uganda.
Rajiv was a Director at Victoria University, his role being that of a member of the University council, where he applied his business acumen.
His energy, charisma, and drive earned him admiration across the corporate and sporting spheres.
Through the Ruparelia Foundation, Rajiv was also deeply involved in philanthropy, supporting education, health care, and environmental conservation initiatives.
Rajiv, son of Sudhir Ruparelia, Uganda’s top business mogul with a net worth of $1.4 Billion, who died aged 35 years, was driving one of his favourite high-powered machines, which many believe he was about to use during his comeback to Motor rallying.
Rajiv Ruparelia, the Managing Director of Ruparelia Group of Companies, who died in the wee hours of Saturday morning, was killed as a result of high speed and barriers that were set up along the Munyonyo-Entebbe-Expressway.
CCTV footage along the Expressway, captured Rajiv’s car at 1:52 am, speeding along the road before he got involved in the fatal accident two minutes later at 1:54 am, according to the Police.
According to the Traffic and Safety Directorate spokesperson, Michael Kananura, the Saturday morning crash involved a Nissan GT-R motor vehicle registration number UAT 638L, which was travelling from Kajjansi towards Munyonyo.
The vehicle crashed, overturned, and burst into flames, burning the sole occupant to death.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver lost control of the vehicle after ramming into concrete barriers placed at the roundabout section of the flyover.
It has emerged that the barriers placed along the road had no clear warnings to motorists plying the road.
“I always use this route when I’m going to Kigo. These barriers, which were removed about 10 days ago, were returned with no clear signage or warning. This was sheer negligence,” said a senior government official who chose anonymity.
Andrew Mwenda, a close friend to the bereaved family, confirmed that Rajiv died due to high speed after his vehicle hit the barriers, rolled and burst into flames at Busabala along the Kajjansi-Munyonyo expressway.
“He was driving very fast and was not aware of barriers in the middle of the road section at Busabala. Rajiv, who was not aware of the restrictions, hit at high speed.
The car overturned and flew into the air for about 80 meters and crashed down in a ball of fire. He was completely burnt and he died instantly,” Mwenda said.
Mwenda noted that Rajiv recently returned to Uganda to attend a wedding of a very close friend, Jonathan Butera Bahizi. “He was going to Munyonyo so that he could drive in the convoy with the groom to the church this morning, that is when the accident happened. It was sudden and fatal,” Mwenda stated.
Independent sources have since revealed that on Thursday, the same area recorded two accidents in the night, in what the locals in the area attributed to a lack of warning by the construction firm that placed them there.
David Soita Masinde, a Busabala resident resident noted that, ‘despite the persistent complaints from residents about the hazardous temporary barriers at Busabala junction, the Ministry of Works, now solely responsible for road management after the dissolution of the Uganda National Roads Authority, has failed to address these glaring safety concerns.
They have allowed a dangerous situation to persist unchecked. The tragic death of Rajiv at this very junction underscores the ministry’s gross negligence and incompetence in overseeing Uganda’s road infrastructure.”
Patrick Oyullu, a Public Health Specialist, also questioned why the barriers had been placed dangerously at Busabala.
Rajiv Ruparelia will be laid to rest on Tuesday at 2:30 pm at the Hindu crematorium,Lugogo.
