The Pan-African Pyramid (PAP) has announced that the late Rajiv Ruparelia will be posthumously honoured with a prestigious Humanitarian Award during the 9th Pan-African Pyramid Global Awards and 12th Anniversary Dinner set for 29 August 2026 at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
In a statement released on Monday through the Office of the Speaker, the Pan-African Pyramid Awards Committee said the decision to honour Rajiv was reached unanimously in recognition of his outstanding humanitarian work in Uganda and across Africa.
The committee praised Rajiv for his contribution towards education, healthcare, sports development, youth empowerment and community support initiatives, saying his impact transformed many lives and inspired a new generation of African entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
“Rajiv impacted countless lives and inspired a generation of young African entrepreneurs and philanthropists,” the statement said.
The family of the late businessman, led by Sudhir Ruparelia and his wife Jyotsna Ruparelia, has confirmed it will attend the awards ceremony to receive the honour on Rajiv’s behalf.
Since his passing, several tribute activities have been organised to celebrate his legacy. On 3 May 2026, members of the motorsport community held a procession from RR Pearl Tower to Speke Resort Munyonyo under the theme “Restoring Hope, Honouring a Legacy, Changing Lives.” The event also included a prosthetic leg donation drive at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
In another tribute, The Living Group commissioned a new borehole in Naguru in memory of Rajiv, while free eye camps and other health outreach programmes were also carried out in his honour.
The awards ceremony is expected to attract several high-profile guests, including African leaders, diplomats, business executives, cultural figures, media personalities and Pan-African stakeholders from across the continent and the diaspora. Among the expected guests is Zimbabwean Pan-Africanist Joshua Maponga Marara III.
According to the organisers, this year’s awards will also reflect Rajiv Ruparelia’s broader humanitarian vision by expanding support initiatives for vulnerable and displaced communities across Africa.
Speaking about the upcoming event, Andrew Irumba, the founding Speaker of the Pan-African Pyramid, said the ceremony will not only celebrate Rajiv’s humanitarian legacy but also promote African unity, philanthropy and home-grown solutions to the continent’s challenges.
The Pan-African Pyramid is a Ugandan-based non-partisan intellectual forum that promotes Pan-Africanism, patriotism and nationalism. The organisation focuses on empowering African youth, encouraging economic unity and recognising individuals making a positive impact across the continent through its annual Global Awards held in Kampala.
