The Hard-Nut Rajiv I Faced Head-On, Argued Till Cows Came Back home For Hiring Bad Black As Victoria University Ambassador, Only His Father Solved Our Puzzle!😀

By Andrew Irumba

I’m writing this post on 2nd June 2025. Since 3rd May 2025 when Rajiv Ruparelia tragically left this world, I changed all my profile pictures on every social media handle I own. After this post, on 3rd June (Martyrs Day), I’ll change them again, to begin allowing myself to deal with the reality that Rajiv is gone. Then I will begin focusing fully on the 8th PAP Global Awards—now without one of the genuine supporters of this dream. This card attached here was given to me as a volunteer during his send off. I was working under protocol section throughout the tragedy time.

Rajiv had made it a habit to kick-start every PAP Awards edition. He would always say he personally loved the idea of Pan-Africanism I was championing, especially the systemic redefinition of it—from being a color-based issue to a mindset and ideology, which the Pan-African Pyramid has been advancing for the last 11 years.

Every award cycle, he would send me UGX 5 million as his personal contribution—not from Ruparelia Group. He’d always say: “Andrew, this is from me as Rajiv, not Ruparelia Foundation, and don’t tell Chairman (I have now revealed for the 1st time). I know you guys have your own way of working out your things,which is fine. I’m just trying to add more value to your dream. You’re free to also write officially to Ruparelia Group for more support—that’s fine.”

This aligned perfectly with what his mother, Joytsna Ruparelia, said at his cremation—that although Rajiv was a rich man’s son, he built his life, networks, and influence independently. And it’s true. I know many rich families’ kids who never connect with the ordinary persons like Rajiv did.

The Victoria University Ambassador Saga That Almost ruined our relationship:

One incident almost ruined our strong bond—the appointment of Bad Black as the face of Victoria University Kampala Uganda .

I was deep in Queen Elizabeth National Park connecting with nature, on the invitation of Dr.Kihura Nkuba, where the internet barely exists.
Later that evening I returned to my hotel room in Kasese Town, and connected to Internet—and boom! The whole internet was ablaze: Bad black Namuyimbwa was now Victoria University’s brand ambassador! 😀 I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I read all the arguments and just couldn’t understand how they made sense. I took my time to calm down and find a respectful way to present my thoughts to Rajiv. Eventually, I called him and said, “With all due respect my big brother, this is a wrong idea.”

He asked why. I replied: “If you know Bad Black’s history, you can’t make her the face of an education institution. Young girls will look at her as a role model. That’s what it means. So are we now saying Victoria University is a collection point for Kampala sex workers? Soon, her network of girls will be meeting in the student lounge—how would that look?”

Then I asked: “Would you like your daughter—or any girl child you care about—to look up to Bad Black as a role model?”
Of course, he said no.

So I advised: let her be a student like everyone else. Let the university shape her—not her shaping the university image.

Rajiv didn’t buy any of it. He told me off. I respectfully responded and said; “No, my brother, whoever advised you on this, perhaps, didn’t deeply look at the other side of the coin, it’s what I’m showing you now. This won’t work. And I won’t promote it.”

He said, “It’s okay, my brother,” and hung up.
That week, he wasn’t even WhatsApping me anymore like before—we used to chat daily with jokes and laughter.

A week later, I reached out to his father, Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, on WhatsApp. I told him exactly what I had told Rajiv. Sudhir read everything and calmly asked: “Have you discussed this with Rajiv?” I said yes, and added, “Since then, he’s gone silent on me.”

Sudhir replied: “I think you have very good points, and I believe your analysis of issues. You’re right. I will talk to him and get back to you.”

Two days later, it wasn’t Sudhir who got back—it was Rajiv himself.

Phone rings: “Hi mada…F… Andrew, where the hell are you?!! 😀”
I said I was at the gym.
He replied: “Come to Kabira Country Club. Now.”

I went with two hearts beating fast—thinking he was going to shout or fight. Instead, he stood up, gave me a chest hug, and laughed out loud. I was confused.

Then he said: “You guy, you’re a great man. You’re so genuine. Some mother…F… were just feeding me lies. Only you gave the real analysis. You’ve won. Chairman told me everything. You two are right—I give up! But let’s find a way to handle her without bad blood.”

That moment showed me Rajiv’s true leadership. He could argue fiercely but still come around, admit where he was wrong, and value the truth. That day, he even gave me UGX 5 million on the spot.

RAJIV GAVE MY FRIEND Moses Kaggwa A JOB ON THE 1st DAY!

When I worked at RP, we had an office at Esso Corner, managed by Mr. Kaggwa Moses, a Mukonjo from Kasese. We became good friends, but I later found him jobless.

One day I picked him up in my car and took him straight to where Rajiv was supervising construction at Kingdom Kampala near #UBC. After greetings, I introduced Kaggwa and said:

“This is the guy who has been managing Esso Corner. Very thorough guy. He’s my man and needs a job.”

Rajiv asked him a few technical questions, and just like that, told him to come back tomorrow with his papers and report to the Indian supervisor. Boom! The next day, Kaggwa was hired as Construction Site Supervisor in charge of material stores.

I visited him a week later—guy was busy on site, geared up in a helmet and overalls! 😀 That’s Rajiv—solution-oriented, decisive, and always followed up.

That was the Rajiv I knew. A man who didn’t fear strong arguments, who valued truth, and who had the humility to admit when he was wrong. A loyal friend. A quiet giver. A rare breed. May his soul rest in eternal peace.