Veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda has paid tribute to business mogul Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia for his latest real estate milestone, the RR Pearl Tower One, a 22-storey office tower on Yusuf Lule Road.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mwenda—who fondly calls Sudhir his “grandson”—celebrated the project as “a classic case of beautiful architecture and great engineering.” He praised Sudhir as one of the few entrepreneurs who reinvest 99% of their wealth within Uganda rather than siphoning capital abroad.
The tower, the first of the RR Pearl Business Park masterplan joins a long line of Sudhir’s ventures that have redefined Kampala’s skyline and injected strength into the economy. For Mwenda, the significance goes beyond real estate: such projects are “blueprints for national growth” and a clear sign that “Uganda’s future can be built by Ugandans, for Ugandans.”
Sudhir’s Bold Track Record
Mwenda recalled Sudhir’s earlier achievement in December 2023 when he completed a 3,800-seater convention centre at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in just one year, complete with 16 breakout rooms. At its unveiling, Mwenda shared a video embracing Sudhir in a “big tight hug,” hailing the project as “achieving the impossible” during Uganda’s post-pandemic recovery.
That facility has since become one of East Africa’s premier venues, credited with boosting Uganda’s hospitality and events industry, creating jobs, and attracting international visitors.
A Relationship Beyond Business
Mwenda and Sudhir share a longstanding personal bond that has weathered both triumphs and trials, including Sudhir’s prolonged legal dispute with the Bank of Uganda over Crane Bank. Throughout the saga, Mwenda consistently defended him, at one point describing Sudhir’s Supreme Court victory as “a lesson in principled entrepreneurship.”
Beyond real estate, Sudhir has invested in education, hospitality, and philanthropy through the Ruparelia Foundation, impacting thousands of Ugandans. Mwenda has described him not only as an investor but also as a “son, brother, friend, and mentor” whose vision inspires a new generation of local entrepreneurs.
As the RR Pearl Tower One rises over Kampala, Mwenda insists the legacy at stake is bigger than bricks and mortar. “He’s not just building structures,” Mwenda remarked. “He’s building Uganda’s tomorrow.”
