By Joseph muyingo
The memory of the late businessman and rally driver Rajiv Ruparelia is inspiring a blend of motorsport, charity and community engagement, as friends, rally organisers and the Ruparelia Foundation extend support to vulnerable communities in honour of his life.
Through the “Forever RR” and “Van to Gulu” campaigns, Rajiv’s legacy is being carried beyond competitive rally stages to communities in Luwero and Gulu, where outreach activities are complementing the sixth round of the 2026 KCB National Rally Championship.
The initiative reflects an effort to ensure that remembering Rajiv goes beyond sporting tributes, with organisers using the rally platform to support people in need and promote community solidarity.
One of the campaign’s activities involved a visit to Luwero Girls Primary School, where the Rajiv Ruparelia Legacy Van stopped as part of its journey to northern Uganda.
The outreach was organised to celebrate Rajiv’s spirit of generosity and encourage continued support for communities, particularly young people.
Organiser Bukenya Sulaiman said the campaign was intended to preserve the values Rajiv represented by turning his memory into practical initiatives that benefit others.
The charitable activities are also expected to extend to Gulu, where the Central Motor Club and Ruparelia Foundation planned to donate food and household essentials to the Gulu Disabled Persons Union.
The planned donation includes rice, sugar, beans, posho, milk and soap, with the handover scheduled for October 9, Uganda’s Independence Day.
The outreach provides a community dimension to a rally event that has attracted 32 crews competing for valuable championship points.
Hosted by the Central Motor Club, the sixth round of the 2026 KCB National Rally Championship covers 375.6 kilometres across the greater Gulu region, with competitive stages testing drivers and their co-drivers.
Championship leader Hassan Alwi enters the event seeking to consolidate his position, while his competitors pursue crucial points in the national title race.
However, beyond the competition, the event carries emotional significance for a motorsport fraternity that continues to remember Rajiv, who founded the Rajiv Ruparelia Rally Team and served as patron of the Central Motor Club.
His participation in national rally events helped establish his connection with drivers, organisers and fans, making his memory an important part of the tribute surrounding this year’s competition.
Rajiv, the son of businessman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, died on May 3, 2025, aged 35, following a road crash at the Busabala Flyover in Wakiso District.
Since his death, memorial activities have provided opportunities for the motorsport community to celebrate his contribution while supporting initiatives associated with his memory.
Gulu previously hosted a memorial rally in October 2025, while the city council considered naming a road after Rajiv in recognition of his contribution to motorsport and his association with the region.
The latest campaign builds on that connection by bringing together sporting competition and community outreach.
For the organisers, the initiative demonstrates how motorsport events can create opportunities to mobilise support, reach vulnerable groups and strengthen relationships between sporting institutions and the communities hosting competitions.
The planned activities also place attention on the role of private foundations and community organisations in supporting people whose needs may extend beyond the reach of routine public services.
As the rally crews compete for championship honours, the “Forever RR” campaign carries a message that extends beyond the finish line: that a person’s legacy can continue through the opportunities created and the lives touched long after their passing.
Through the combination of rallying and community service, Rajiv Ruparelia’s memory continues to find expression both on the road and among the people the campaign seeks to support.
