Gashumba Blames Reckless Contractors for Rajiv Ruparelia’s Death

5th May 2025 Kampala

Businessman and socio-political commentator Frank Gashumba has blamed reckless road contractors for the tragic death of Rajiv Ruparelia, the 35-year-old Director of the Ruparelia Group and son of tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia.

Rajiv died on Saturday after his vehicle crashed into a temporary barrier along the Busabala Flyover road, overturned, and caught fire. He died instantly at the scene.

Speaking during an appearance on the Entugga show hosted by Adam Kungu on Radio 4, Gashumba — who is also the Vice Chairperson of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and a close friend of the Ruparelia family — expressed outrage over what he called “reckless” and “negligent” road construction practices in Kampala.

“These contractors erect abrupt barriers in the middle of the road with no warning signs whatsoever. This is sheer recklessness, and it cost Rajiv his life” said Gashumba. “You pass on a spot at 10:00 and there are no barriers and by 12:00 they have already put them there with no warning reflectors” said Gashumba.

“If it weren’t for these unmarked and dangerous barriers, Rajiv would still be alive today,” Gashumba added

The car in which Rajiv was travelling in flames

He also took aim at the Uganda Police Force for mounting numerous roadblocks along highways such as the Kampala–Masaka road, which he claimed serve more as “toll points for extorting motorists” than as tools for ensuring road safety.

Gashumba gave an example of Rwanda which has a camera technology on the roads to manage the traffic and they have been effective in punishing culprits.

He said that people who aren’t used to such roads can easily fall into such road blocks since they don’t put any warnings.

It should be known that Rajiv Ruparelia had been out of the country for months and so did not know that the Busabala road had such barriers a reason he collided with it hence causing an accident. He was driving from Kanjansi heading to Munyonyo by the time of the accident.

Gashumba’s comments have sparked renewed debate about the state of road infrastructure and law enforcement practices in Uganda, especially the accountability of contractors and the role of traffic police in road safety.