Ugandan young rapper, Faith Nanyanzi, popularly known as Felista Di Superstar has joined the nation in mourning the late Rajiv Ruparelia, son to city tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia expressing personal sorrow over a promise she never got to fulfill.
In a heartfelt tribute, Felista revealed that she had long planned to invite Rajiv to celebrate one of her most important milestones, her graduation. Sadly, his sudden death has robbed her of that opportunity.
“I had made a vow to myself to invite Dr. Rajiv on my graduation day but it never came to pass, leaving me feeling deeply saddened,” she wrote. “RIP General.”
Felista, known for her lyrical agility and confident stage presence, has previously credited Rajiv for supporting young talent and playing a key role in her educational journey. His passing represents not only a national loss but also a deeply personal one for the rising artist.
Felista also expressed profound appreciation for the late Rajiv Ruparelia, founder of the Ruparelia Foundation for sponsoring her primary education.
Faith studied at Kampala Parents’ School under the Foundation’s sponsorship where she achieved an impressive second-grade score of 13 aggregates. She attributed her academic opportunity to Dr. Rajiv’s generosity, highlighting that her talent opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed.
“One will say Felista has not yet gained from the music industry just because I don’t have a car, good home and so forth… But to me, I have so far gained a lot from this industry. I managed to complete my primary level for free in one of the best schools in Uganda—that is Kampala Parents’ School. Thanks to The Ruparelia Foundation and Mr. Rajiv for making it happen,” she shared.
Her journey of academic achievement didn’t end there. Thanks to her rapping talent, Felista also secured a full bursary for secondary school at Kisaasi College School, covering S1 to S6.
“If I sum up all the costs, I am pretty sure my dad couldn’t afford them because they are too heavy for him. Thanks, Allah, for my talent and my fans,” she added, extending appreciation to her late mentor Latif Ssebagala Sengendo.
Through her tribute and testimony, Felista Di Superstar paints a picture of Rajiv not just as a benefactor, but as a transformative figure in her life and the lives of many young Ugandans.
