By Musisi Lwanga
Philanthropist Sudhir Ruparelia’s long involvement in community initiatives is again coming into focus as the Indian Association of Uganda leads a month-long campaign to collect 25,000 units of blood for use in hospitals across the country.
The campaign, launched this month as part of celebrations around India’s Independence Day, is being carried out with support from the Ministry of Health, Uganda Blood Transfusion Services and other partners. Organisers say the drive is intended to help address shortages that continue to affect hospitals and patients who depend on blood transfusions during emergencies, surgery, childbirth and treatment of severe illnesses.
Ruparelia’s involvement is significant because the businessman has for years been part of the Indian Association of Uganda and its charitable programmes. He is among the association’s trustees, a position that places him within the leadership structure responsible for guiding its community and humanitarian activities.
The association has built a record of supporting healthcare and education projects in Uganda, including blood donation drives, scholarships and assistance for children requiring specialised medical treatment.
participated in initiatives aimed at supporting education, healthcare and other social causes.
The current blood campaign provides one of the clearest examples because its impact is immediate and measurable. Each unit collected is processed for patients who need transfusions, making the campaign directly relevant to hospitals and families dealing with medical emergencies.
Jatin Udani, who heads the Indian Medical Forum within the association, has urged more members of the public to participate, describing blood donation as one of the most direct ways of helping another person. The association is encouraging regular voluntary donation rather than limiting participation to annual campaigns.
The drive also reflects the growing role of private organisations in supporting Uganda’s health sector. While government remains responsible for maintaining the national blood supply, health officials have repeatedly called on companies, community organisations and members of the public to contribute because hospitals require a steady supply throughout the year.
For the Indian Association of Uganda, the 25,000-unit target is therefore both a humanitarian goal and an effort to strengthen a culture of voluntary blood donation.
For Ruparelia, whose business career has made him one of Uganda’s most recognisable entrepreneurs, his continued association with such initiatives offers another side to his public profile, centred on community support rather than commercial achievement.
The campaign is expected to continue through September, with organisers seeking to reach as many donors as possible across the country.
At a time when Uganda’s hospitals continue to face pressure on blood supplies, the success of the campaign will ultimately be measured not by the publicity surrounding its launch, but by how many units reach patients who need them.
For the Indian Association and its leadership, including Ruparelia, the message is straightforward: a successful business community can also play a practical role in helping meet some of the country’s most urgent social needs.
