Tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia has retained his position on the Board of Trustees of the Lohana Community in Uganda following elections held during the community’s Annual General Meeting in Kampala over the weekend.
The results were announced on Sunday by Executive Committee Chairman Janak Gadhia, who confirmed the election of five trustees tasked with overseeing the affairs of one of Uganda’s most influential Asian communities.
The newly elected trustees are Sudhir Ruparelia, Dr Hitesh Panchmatia, Dr Chirag Kotecha, Bhasker Kotecha and Raj Sakaria.
Gadhia thanked members for turning up in large numbers and supporting the leadership structures of the community, including the Executive Committee, Lohana Mahila Mandal and the Lohana Youth Wing.
“We thank all members for the successful AGM and continuous support given to the Executive Committee, Lohana Mahila Mandal and Lohana Youth Wing,” he said in a statement issued after the meeting.
He also paid tribute to outgoing trustees Kiran Bhimjiyani and Chetan Pabari for their commitment and contribution to the growth and stability of the community over the years.
Sudhir’s re-election is expected to strengthen the community’s leadership, given his long-standing influence in Uganda’s business and philanthropic sectors. He is widely recognised as one of East Africa’s leading investors, with interests in real estate, banking, hospitality, education and media.
The Lohana Community has its roots in the Sindh and Gujarat regions of India, with many families settling in East Africa during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In Uganda, the community became deeply involved in trade, manufacturing and commerce, playing a significant role in the country’s economic development.
Before the 1972 expulsion of Asians by former President Idi Amin, thousands of Lohanas lived and operated businesses across Uganda. Many later relocated to countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada before some families gradually returned after the government encouraged Asian investors to reclaim properties and reinvest in Uganda during the late 1980s.
Today, the Lohana Community remains active in business, culture and charity work. The community continues to organise cultural and religious programmes, youth initiatives and social welfare activities aimed at supporting members and preserving its heritage.
Uganda’s Asian business community continues to contribute significantly to investment, employment creation and philanthropy across the country.
