Rajiv Ruparelia, the only son of Ugandan business magnate Sudhir Ruparelia, will be cremated on Tuesday afternoon following his death in a car crash on Saturday.
A funeral programme released by the family confirmed that the ceremony will take place at the Hindu crematorium in Lugogo at 2:30pm on 6 May.
“It is with a deep and heavy heart that we announce the passing of our son Rajiv Ruparelia early this morning,” the family said in a statement. “The family asks that their privacy be respected during this tough and trying time.”
Rajiv, 35, died in the early hours of Saturday after his Nissan GTR collided with concrete barriers along the Kajjansi–Munyonyo Road. The vehicle overturned and caught fire. He was killed instantly.
He had recently returned from London and was reportedly on his way to join a wedding convoy in Kampala, where he was due to serve as a groomsman for a close friend, Jonathan Bahizi Buteera—the son of former Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera.
The accident has sparked widespread grief and raised renewed concerns over road safety, with several Ugandans pointing to poor signage and infrastructure around construction zones. By press time, officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport had yet to issue a formal response.
A vigil is being held at the Ruparelia family residence in Kololo. He is survived by a young daughter.
Tributes have poured in from across Uganda and beyond, reflecting Rajiv’s influence in business and public life. Widely seen as the heir to the Ruparelia Group, a conglomerate with interests in real estate, finance, education, and hospitality, he had also developed a reputation as a progressive voice in the private sector.
The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, who visited the family home in Kololo on Saturday evening, described Rajiv’s death as “a tragedy” and said the 35-year-old had made “meaningful contributions to Uganda’s development.”
Robert Kyagulanyi, leader of the National Unity Platform and former MP for Kyadondo East, wrote on X:
“Extremely shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Mr. Rajiv Ruparelia. He was a humble, kind, and generous young man. My sincere thoughts and condolences go out to the family of Mr. Sudhir Ruparelia, the Ugandan business community, and everyone whose life Rajiv touched.”
Parliament Speaker Anita Among paid tribute to Rajiv as “a young and enterprising mind” whose death was a blow to the country’s economy and workforce.
“His untimely death has deprived our country of a young and enterprising mind who made significant contributions to our economy and the employment sector,” she wrote on X.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa described Rajiv as “full of life and loved this country with all his heart.”
“Like his father, he was an accomplished entrepreneur with a big heart for humanity. My condolences to Mr. Sudhir and Mrs. Jyotsna Ruparelia on this painful loss.”
