At Victoria University’s 10th Graduation Ceremony, Vice Chancellor Prof. Lawrence Muganga paid heartfelt homage to the late businessman Rajiv Ruparelia, lauding him as the driving force behind the institution’s remarkable ascent from a modest campus with just 180 students to one of Uganda’s fastest-growing higher education hubs.
Addressing graduates and faculty at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Monday, Muganga recounted how Rajiv’s unwavering belief in Victoria University especially during its early struggles laid the groundwork for its ambitious future. “He saw what others couldn’t,” Muganga said, recalling their first encounter in 2020, when Rajiv recognized the potential in a fledgling institution that many dismissed as too small to succeed.
“When we saw a building with 180 students, he saw a university destined for greatness,” Muganga emphasized, describing Rajiv’s relentless vision. “His eyes were always on where this university was meant to be long before others could find it on the map.”
A Leader Who Inspired Courage in Adversity
Muganga highlighted Rajiv’s role during Uganda’s COVID-19 lockdown, when the university faced unprecedented challenges. Unlike those who urged survival, Rajiv challenged leadership to dream bigger. “He didn’t ask us to endure the hardships. He asked us to work toward better days,” Muganga said, quoting Rajiv’s philosophy of fearless conviction.
“He believed a small team in Kampala could build a Victoria University that would be the envy of Africa and perhaps the world,” Muganga added, celebrating Rajiv’s audacity in turning vision into reality.
Beyond business achievements, Muganga honored Rajiv as a mentor, brother and father whose influence extended to countless young lives. “We love you. We celebrate you. We cherish you,” he said, expressing gratitude for a life dedicated to uplifting Victoria University.
A Legacy of Innovation and Expansion
As Victoria University marks a decade of academic milestones, Muganga unveiled plans for a new Naguru campus, set to begin construction in January 2027. The state of the art facility will integrate technology driven learning and feature a cutting edge teaching hospital to support the university’s ambitious medical school.
Muganga urged Uganda’s leaders, parents, and employers to embrace artificial intelligence, stressing its critical role in the nation’s push for economic expansion by a factor of ten.
“Rajiv’s legacy lives on in every student who walks through these doors,” Muganga concluded, honoring a man whose vision continues to shape Victoria University’s journey toward excellence. “We will always remember you.”
