By Joseph Muyingo
The memory of the late businessman and rally driver Rajiv Ruparelia is being kept alive through community outreach initiatives targeting schoolchildren and vulnerable people, as his family, friends and motorsport associates extend his legacy beyond the rally circuit.
Under the “Forever RR” and “Van to Gulu” campaigns, organisers are combining motorsport activities with charitable initiatives in Luwero and Gulu, using the 2026 KCB National Rally Championship as an opportunity to support communities and institutions.
The Rajiv Ruparelia Legacy Van is scheduled to visit Luwero Girls Primary School on Thursday, October 8, in an initiative aimed at connecting Rajiv’s memory to education and community development.
The campaign will later move to Gulu, where the Central Motor Club (CMC) and the Ruparelia Foundation are expected to donate essential food and household supplies to the Gulu Disabled Persons Union on Friday, October 9.
The donation is expected to include rice, sugar, beans, posho, milk and soap, providing support to vulnerable people while remembering Rajiv’s contribution to Uganda’s motorsport fraternity.
Organiser Bukenya Sulaiman said the activities reflect the spirit of generosity and community service associated with Rajiv, whose influence extended beyond his involvement in competitive rallying.
Rajiv, the only son of businessman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, died on May 3, 2025, aged 35, following a road crash at the Busabala Flyover in Wakiso District.
Before his death, he was a prominent figure in Ugandan motorsport, having founded the Rajiv Ruparelia Rally Team and served as patron of the Central Motor Club.
His participation in national rally competitions earned him recognition within the motorsport community, which continues to honour his contribution through activities surrounding the sport.
However, the latest legacy campaign seeks to broaden that remembrance by directing attention towards education, community welfare and support for vulnerable groups.
With support from the Ruparelia Foundation, the initiative demonstrates how sporting events can provide a platform for charitable outreach, bringing together competitors, organisers and communities around a shared cause.
The sixth round of the 2026 KCB National Rally Championship, hosted by the Central Motor Club, runs from October 8 to 10 in Gulu.
For Rajiv’s family, friends and associates, the campaign offers an opportunity to sustain his memory through practical acts of kindness, ensuring that his legacy is remembered not only for his achievements in motorsport but also through initiatives intended to make a difference in people’s lives.
