Gulu City Council has deferred naming of the road in memory of Rajiv Ruparelia to the next sitting.
Rajiv was the Board Chair of the Central Motor Club, whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 35 in a car crash on May 3, 2025, along the Kajjansi–Munyonyo Road, after his vehicle crashed into barriers at the Busabala flyover.
Through his Foundation, he moved the motorsports rally from the capital, Kampala, to the countryside, including Gulu City, which hosted the motor rally in his memory in October this year.
The Rajiv Foundation and the Ruparelia Family have offered Gulu scholarships to the 19 best-performing pupils who sat the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination to secondary schools in 2026.
His father, Dr. Sudir Rupareli, has announced a partnership with Maj. Gen. Charles Otema Awany plans to build a stadium within the city measuring 100 acres to promote motorsports.
The Gulu City Council Executive Committee presented a report requesting that the Council name a road in the city to honor his legacy.
The report was presented by the Deputy Mayor Christine Olok on Friday, 14, 2025, during the Council meeting.
The Councilor Representing Women at the Laroo-Pece South Constituency, Florence Lalam, moved a motion to defer the matter to the Committee of Social Services for scrutiny.
Lalam was backed by 9 of the 18 Councilors in the house, forcing the speaker Joyce Alima to defer for the next setting.
The road proposed in Rajiv’s memory is about 400 meters, starting right from the Roundabout next to Gulu High Court and connecting to Gulu-Kitgum Road from the Western Side.
Council also observed irregularities in naming the roads within the city and tasked the Committee of Council of Social Services to report back to the Council with the updated roads within the city in the same sitting for renaming.
The affected roads include Lacito Okech Road, which was misspelled ‘Lacto’ Ben Ocan was named in two different roads.
Cemetery Road is also proposed to be renamed Maj. Gen Paul Lukech, and Odur Min Odyek Road is to be renamed Jacob Oulanyha for the late Speaker’s contribution to Uganda’s politics.
But the City Mayor Alfred Okwonga has urged the Council to recognize the late Rajiv Lupercalia’s contributions for introducing the new sports in the city, and just like his generous support towards education in the region where families are struggling to educate their children.
“Let’s be mindful that through his foundation (Rajiv Foundation), our children will get education scholarships to the best schools in the Country. You should also know that his father (Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia) will build a motorsports arena here, ” Okwanga tells Councilors.
Meanwhile, naming of people in the streets, as earlier on observed earlier by Ambassador Dr. Olara Otunnu, is to promote cultural heritage and the rich history of a given area.
Ambassador Olara Otunnu recently stated in a consultative Gulu City physical planning development meeting: “Names on the roads worldwide help to keep the sacred history of the people in that area; the names you see on the roads represent the people and their rich history and cultures.
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