Ruparelia Foundation receives Conservation Education Award at UWEC@70 Celebration

The Ruparelia Foundation, under the Ruparelia Group, has won the Conservation Education Award at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre’s 70th Anniversary Gala Dinner, which was held at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Friday.

Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, a businessman and philanthropist, owns the Ruparelia Group.

The Foundation was recognised for its great contribution towards UWEC.

On Thursday, during the celebrations of UWEC’s 70 years of existence, the centre’s Executive Director, Dr. James Musinguzi, commended the Ruparelia Group’s Ruparelia Foundation for its tireless support towards the country’s wildlife conservation.

Dr Musinguzi described how the Ruparelia Foundation sponsors a lion cub named Arie after Dr Sudhir's granddaughter and daughter, Ms Sheena Ruparelia, and expressed gratitude for their unwavering commitment to the cub's well-being.

He added that through partnerships and support from patriotic Ugandans like the Ruparelia Foundation, the facility has transformed over the years, and that such milestone celebrations help the public appreciate and recognise its efforts.

Dr. Musinguzi also noted that the Ruparelia Foundation has always supported the rhinos with food and medical assistance, and it has been responding swiftly to UWEC’s requests. He urged more partners to come on board for the transformation of the wildlife centre.

"We urge more partners to join UWEC in conserving wildlife through sponsoring animals, making generous contributions, and coming to visit the facility." Dr. Musinguzi added

The Ruparelia family members are renown nature lovers, and through their charity works, they have immensely contributed to the growth of the tourism sector in Uganda.

In February 2021, Dr. Sudhir and his family enjoyed their Janan Luwum Day at UWEC, popularly known as Entebbe Zoo, where he reunited with Kabira the rhino after 20 years.

Dr Sudhir and his family paid a visit to Kabira, Uganda's oldest male rhino named after Dr Sudhir's Kabira Country Club.

It should also be recalled that in 2001, Sudhir sponsored the translocation of the then three-year-old rhino from Solio Ranch in Kenya to the Entebbe Zoo.

In September 2022, the government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, recognised businessman Sudhir Ruparelia for his efforts in promoting Uganda’s tourism sector.

Presiding over the event as the Chief Guest, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, hailed the businessman as one of the investors who hold Uganda close to heart.

"In a special way, I congratulate Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, Chairman of the Speke Group of Hotels, for your passion and leadership in hospitality and tourism development," Rt. Hon. Tayebwa said.

"I know people who have been begging Dr. Sudhir to come to their countries and develop them; I know many of them; some of them have been asking me, but what did you give this Sudhir man as Uganda?""The man has a lot of money, and we would like him to come and invest in our areas," he added.

For the past ten years, Dr. Sudhir, through his charity arm, the Ruparelia Foundation, has worked together with several stakeholders to champion positive change in different communities across the country to improve livelihoods in Uganda.

To date, more than 700 charitable causes have been funded by the charity.