Uganda has been recognized as one of the top entrepreneurial countries in the world, only frustrated by one of the highest rates of business mortality.
However, Ugandan entrepreneurs are fortunate to have examples of entrepreneurial endurance and success to emulate.
Forbes Magazine, the world’s most respected publication on business matters, has listed these Ugandans as the most successful entrepreneurs. Key to note is that most of them are of Indian descent.
1. Sudhir Ruparelia
Sudhir Ruparelia has been topping this list for quite some years. Sudhir is famed for rising his fortune from $25,000 which he saved from his hustle in United Kingdom before he returned to Uganda in mid 1980s as a beverages merchant and later as foreign currency dealer. Today, his portfolio goes across sectors including real estate, hospitality, agriculture, media, education, insurance, and finance.
2. Karim Hijri
The godfather of Dembe Group of Companies, Karim Hijri has steadily kept run behind Sudhir Ruparelia. Karim is the force behind Dembe Group of Companies with interests in hotels such as Imperial Imperial Group of Hotels.
3. Alykhan Kharmali
Until his death recently, the founder of Mukwano Industries, Alykhan Kharmali has been among the richest Ugandans for several decades. He is one of the business architects of Uganda’s resurgence in 1990s with his popular household flagship. Mukwano family has interests in banking, manufacturing, agriculture and real estate.
4. Mohammed Hamid
Mohammed Hamid, behind Aya group, has interests in transport, real estate, hospitality and manufacturing.
5. Charles Mbire
Charles Mbire has worked up his way on top on the rich list. He is well known for his interest in MTN Uganda, as well as investments in cement manufacturing, transportation, agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, real estate, energy, and finance.
6. Sikander Lalani
Lalani is the man made of steel, since he has grown Roofing Group into an east African giant.
7. Aaron M. Mukooza
He has investments spanning across the media together with the banking sector.
8. Gordon Wavamunno
As the best part of his wealth is believed to have stemmed from his automotive business, Gordon Wavamunno is immensely linked with the ownership of Spear House together with Spear Motors -his automotive company.
9. Mukesh Shukla
Shukla is behind Shumuk Group of Companies -a successful company concerned with cooking utensils.
10. Patrick Bitature
Bitature made his way up the ladder on the back of Simba Telcom, which was an early dealer for MTN and other telecom giants. Today, his interests span hospitality, energy, real estate among others.
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