By Andrew Irumba
The ever challenged but never equaled money Doctor, money magnet, city tycoon, business mogul…..(you can also add on yours in your native language), Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia is still Uganda’s richest man, Forbes Magazine has revealed!
Dr.Sudhir, the once poorest young man of Indian origin born in Kasese, a western part district of Uganda and raised in Katwe, a Kampala slam area who made it to the billionaires’ top list in 2016, is still in the driver’s seat in this country’s hard economic times.
Below is a compilation of the latest 10 richest Ugandans according to Forbes magazine, follow….
1– With a fortune valued at $1.2 billion, Dr.Sudhir Ruparelia is the richest Ugandan. He is a true manifestation of rags to riches, scratch to splash, having set up his enterprise using only $25,000.
As he remains the richest Ugandan, he is largely associated with investment dealings in sectors including real estate, hospitality, Broadcasting, Education, insurance and of late he has also penetrated into the Agriculture sector, especially export of flowers.
2- Karim Hijri: He has attained an impressive feat as Uganda’s second wealthiest person under his Dembe Group of Companies mostly known for its subsidiaries such as Imperial Group of Hotels. Karim Hijri is valued at about $750m.
3–Alykhan Kharmali: Under the aegis of Mukwano Family, Alykhan Kharmali has claimed a notable position amidst the richest Ugandans, especially as he remains the main force behind one of Uganda’s famous companies –Mukwano Group of Companies. With his investments largely centred on banking and manufacturing, Alykhan Kharmali is currently worth $700m.
4- Having emerged into Uganda’s class of richest personalities at a youthful age, Mohammed Hamid is considered a fortunate business man with huge investments in areas such as transport Industry , Real estate, and manufacturing.
As the propriator of the Aya Group, which forms part of Uganda’s thriving companies, Mohammed’s net worth swirls around $400 million.
5-Since many of the richest Ugandans are of foreign descent, Charles Mbire is the wealthiest native Ugandan. With his net worth valued at $350 million, Mbire is well known for his diverse business investments which span across transport, Agribusiness, Pharmaceuticals, Telecommunications, Real Estate, Energy, and finance.
6- Lalani is behind Roofings Group, the biggest manufacturer of steel products in the country. Lalani is valued at a networth of $300m.
7- With regard to his large investments which heavily span across the media together with the banking sector, Mukooza has amassed some networth valued at $200 million.
8-Gordon Wavamunno made money with his Spear Motors, a company that has had the sole Mercedes Benz franchise in Uganda since the 1970s. Wavah might have lost WBS TV when URA put it under receivership over tax arrears, but he still has several business interests and is worth $100m.
9- Mukesh Shukla: Shukla is reported to have acquired $100 million as net worth mainly from his ownership of Shumuk Group of Companies –a successful company dealing in cooking utensils.
10- Patrick Bitature: Bitature is a wealthy Ugandan who acquires the largest portion of his money through a giant telecom company, Simba Telecom, which is regarded as Uganda’s biggest seller/merchant of MTN airtime. He is also into real estate and hotel business with his latest Naguru Skyz Hotel being one of his biggest ventures , among others.
So next time you meet Sudhir on the streets simply call him, ‘Hey money Doctor’…..
