By Joseph Muyingo
More than a year after the death of businessman and philanthropist Rajiv Ruparelia, his legacy of humanitarianism, business and Pan-Africanism continues to inspire a new generation.
At the 2026 Pan-African Pyramid Global Awards held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Rajiv was honoured posthumously for his contribution to humanity and efforts to make a difference in the lives of others.
The ceremony, organised by journalist and Pan-Africanist Andrew Irumba, brought together business leaders, politicians, humanitarians and Pan-Africanists from Uganda and beyond.
But the event took a new turn when Rajiv’s father, businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, pledged to provide a permanent home for the awards in Uganda.
“I’m a man of few words. I will continue supporting and hosting these awards every year. We want to make this a home for the Pan-African Pyramids in Uganda. Thank you so much.”
Sudhir’s commitment means Speke Resort Munyonyo, part of the Ruparelia Group, will host the annual Pan-African Pyramid Global Awards as their permanent Ugandan home.
For the organisers, the partnership is more than sponsorship.
It is being seen as an opportunity to build a platform that brings Africans and people of African descent together around shared values of unity, development, humanity and economic empowerment.
Andrew Irumba says Rajiv’s recognition was not simply about remembering a successful businessman, but about celebrating the impact he made during his relatively short life.
“The measure of a life is not how long one lives, but how deeply one impacts humanity.”
Rajiv, who died aged 35 in a road crash in May 2025, had served as Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group while also developing interests in motorsport and humanitarian initiatives.
Irumba says his personal encounter with Rajiv demonstrated the late businessman’s willingness to support ideas aimed at improving society.
He recalls approaching Rajiv while developing his Pan-African initiative, only for Rajiv to ask a simple question: how much support was needed?
For Irumba, that response represented a practical approach to leadership—moving beyond words and turning ideas into action.
The awards therefore became an opportunity to challenge the continent’s leaders and young people to redefine what constitutes a successful life.
Irumba says the real measure should be the number of lives positively affected by an individual’s existence.
The message also extended to the broader Pan-African movement.
Rather than limiting Pan-Africanism to speeches and historical discussions, Irumba called for practical steps to strengthen economic integration across the continent.
He urged African countries to increase intra-African trade and investment, ease the movement of people and ideas, and build industries capable of adding value to Africa’s natural resources.
“The African border should be an administrative line, not a psychological wall.”
The gathering attracted participants from Uganda, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Jamaica, Zimbabwe and the United States, demonstrating the growing international interest in Pan-African initiatives.
Among those attending were former South African Member of Parliament Dr. Khanyisile Litchfield Tshabalala, Ghanaian businessman and humanitarian Clinton Arko Agyemang, United States-based Pan-Africanist Ayo Kimath and a Jamaican delegation led by Blossom Thomas.
For the Ruparelia family, the permanent hosting of the awards at Speke Resort Munyonyo could provide another avenue through which Rajiv’s values of business, philanthropy and service to humanity continue to influence others.
