Property mogul, Sudhir Ruparelia, the proprietor of Ruparelia Group of Companies has been elected a Trustee of the Indian Association Uganda.
Sudhir was elected during a function held at the Association’s offices in Kampala on Sunday.
Shortly after being elected, Sudhir told friends and followers: “Friends, today I was elected one of the trustees of Indian Association. Thank you all for entrusting me.”
A board of trustees is an appointed or elected group of individuals that has overall responsibility for the management of an organization. The board of trustees is typically the governing body of an organization and seeks to ensure the best interest of stakeholders in all types of management decisions.
For More than hundred years Indian Association Uganda has excelled at leading Uganda’s Indian community and has enjoyed unrivalled record for peace through its efforts to build cohesive societies.
It is estimated that there are over 27,000 Indians living in Uganda and they have played a key role in growing Uganda’s economy. The Indian Community in Uganda is said to be contributing up to 65% of Uganda tax revenue.
It should be noted that during a recent dinner at State House, Entebbe hosted by President Yoweri Museveni, Indians pleaded to the President to help them become one of Uganda’s tribe since this country has become their home given the fact that their grandparents lived here many years ago.
In response to their pleas, President Museveni promised to oversee the constitutional amendment process that would see Indians among Ugandan tribes.
Museveni also lashed out at former President Idi Amin (RIP) for expelling Indians in 1972,
“The most important thing between the Indian community and the local community in the country is complementarity of the two communities in trade. The Indians accelerated economic growth of the country by stimulating industrialization through trade, manufacturing, delivery of both human and animal drugs and extensive agriculture,” Museveni said, adding: “It was indeed a big mistake for Idi Amin to expel the Indians. They were a big asset to Africans.”
He said that there was also need to make it clear by 1986 in the National Resistance Council (NRC) debate and in Parliament in 1995 to deliberate on the return of properties to the Asian Community returnees.
In 1972, then Ugandan President Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of the country’s Asian population, displacing tens of thousands from the place they called home. At the time of the expulsion, there were approximately 80,000 individuals of South Asian descent.
“Today, I am very happy. NRM was very clear for it settled the problem and on return, the Indians responded. They have done much on the economic recovery and development of Uganda,” he added.
