Uganda: Ruparelias Donate Shs50m to Ngamba Island Sanctuary, Name Baby Chimpanzee After Late Rajiv

The Ruparelia family has donated Shs50 million to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and adopted a baby chimpanzee named RR in memory of the late Rajiv Ruparelia, in a ceremony that combined an act of conservation philanthropy with a deeply personal tribute to the young businessman who died in a road accident in 2025.

Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, accompanied by his wife Jyotsna and other family members, visited the sanctuary on Saturday for a ceremony that doubled as a celebration of Rajiv's life and his connection to Uganda's wildlife.

"Today, as we name this chimpanzee in honour of Rajiv, we are reminded of a young man who loved animals, nature, and wildlife," Sudhir said at the event. He added that Rajiv had strongly believed that those blessed with opportunity carried a responsibility to protect the vulnerable, whether people, communities, or wildlife.

Dr. Sudhir noted that the Ruparelia Foundation, which he co-founded with Jyotsna in 2012 under the philosophy of Enriching Lives Together, has long supported conservation work. The family had previously adopted another chimpanzee at the sanctuary named Rupa, short for Ruparelia, underscoring a relationship with Ngamba Island that predates the facility's formal opening.

Ngamba Island Executive Director Dr. Joshua Rukundo confirmed the depth of that relationship. "Rajiv was a friend. Sudhir has been visiting us regularly, and Rajiv had also started visiting and bringing friends," he said. "RR is going to help us remember him and the love he had for conservation and wildlife."

Board Chairman Dr. James Musinguzi described Dr. Sudhir as one of the founding figures of the sanctuary's journey, which began in 1997, two years before operations officially opened in 1999. "We are saddened by what happened to Rajiv, but when people have done good things, they are remembered. Some do monuments, but RR's name will go all over the world through this chimpanzee," he said, noting that sanctuary chimpanzees can live for up to 60 years.

Dr. Sudhir also recalled a previous moment of personal significance when a young rhino at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was named Rae Ruparelia after Rajiv's daughter. He described such gestures as statements of love, continuity, and hope, reflecting the family's conviction that the next generation must inherit a Uganda where wildlife is protected. The Ruparelia Foundation pledged to continue supporting Ngamba Island's conservation mission going forward.

Read the original article on New Light.