Ruparelia Group chairman Sudhir Ruparelia has announced that Paradise Island Resort, a 19-acre luxury retreat on Lake Victoria, will officially open on December 1, 2026, adding a new destination to Uganda’s luxury hospitality and tourism sector.
In an announcement accompanied by photographs of the resort, Sudhir said the development is a new chapter in Uganda’s luxury hospitality industry and will bring together luxury, nature and exceptional hospitality.
“I am delighted to announce the upcoming opening of Paradise Island Resort on 1st December 2026, a 19-acre private island retreat on the beautiful Lake Victoria,” Sudhir said.
“Designed to bring together luxury, nature and exceptional hospitality, this destination represents another milestone in our journey to elevate Uganda’s tourism potential. We look forward to welcoming the world to this extraordinary destination,” he added.
The development is being undertaken under the Ruparelia Group’s hospitality business, with Sudhir’s children, the late Rajiv Ruparelia and Sheena Ruparelia, having been involved in spearheading the project.
Construction officially commenced on May 1, 2021, with the initial plan focusing on developing cottages and leisure facilities that would take advantage of the island’s natural setting.
The resort occupies 19 acres and is located approximately 20 minutes by speedboat from Speke Resort Munyonyo, providing visitors with a lake journey before reaching their destination.
The property has 38 accommodation units comprising 10 standard cottages, 11 cliff-hanger cottages, 14 deluxe two-bedroom cottages and three executive villas.
The different accommodation categories are intended to cater for couples, families, holidaymakers and visitors seeking exclusive accommodation away from the busy urban environment.
The cliff-hanger cottages are particularly distinctive because of their positioning around the island’s rocky formations, giving guests views of Lake Victoria, while the executive villas provide a more private accommodation experience.
The Ruparelia Group has also invested in marine transport infrastructure to facilitate access to the island, including acquiring luxury passenger speedboats to ferry visitors between Speke Resort Munyonyo and Paradise Island Resort.
The boats, finished in white and turquoise colours matching the resort’s branding, are expected to make the approximately 20-minute journey across Lake Victoria more convenient for visitors.
The investment addresses one of the major logistical requirements of operating a hospitality facility situated on an island that can only be accessed by water.
The speedboats are intended primarily for passenger transportation, while a separate vessel has been developed to handle the movement of supplies and other operational requirements.
In September 2025, Sudhir unveiled a specially constructed flat-bottomed vessel known as The Barge, designed to transport supplies, equipment and other essential goods between Speke Resort Munyonyo and Paradise Island.
The vessel was developed to handle bulky cargo, including food supplies, beverages, construction materials, furniture, linen and other items required to run a luxury hospitality establishment.
The barge is particularly important because operating a resort on an island requires a reliable supply chain, with virtually everything needed for daily operations having to be transported across the lake.
The investment complements the passenger speedboats, creating separate arrangements for transporting visitors and delivering supplies to the island.
Paradise Island has also been designed around environmentally conscious tourism, with the facility operating on solar energy rather than depending on conventional electricity generators.
Sheena Ruparelia, a director at the resort, previously described it as a fully solar-powered eco-lodge.
“We are 100 per cent an eco-lodge. The island runs on solar,” she said.
The resort’s attractions include a man-made white sand beach, an infinity swimming pool overlooking Lake Victoria, restaurants, bars, conference and event facilities, as well as recreational activities.
Visitors are also expected to enjoy water sports, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, birdwatching, nature walks and boat excursions.
Its surrounding natural environment, including rocky formations, indigenous vegetation and birdlife, provides an additional attraction for visitors seeking relaxation and nature-based experiences.
The facilities are designed to position the island as more than an accommodation establishment, with potential to host weddings, honeymoons, family holidays, private celebrations, corporate retreats and conferences.
The Paradise Island project was first announced in May 2021, when the Ruparelia Group confirmed that construction had commenced under the leadership of Rajiv and Sheena Ruparelia.
At the time, the initial development plan focused on constructing cottages to establish a private leisure destination on Lake Victoria.
By June 2024, photographs of the development had been released, showing the extensive accommodation facilities taking shape on the island.
The project has since developed into a 38-unit hospitality establishment, supported by specialised marine transport and supply infrastructure.
The development also carries significance for the Ruparelia family following the death of Rajiv Ruparelia in a road accident in May 2025. Rajiv had been among the family members involved in spearheading the project alongside his sister Sheena.
Paradise Island adds to the Ruparelia Group’s established hospitality portfolio, which includes Speke Resort Munyonyo, Speke Hotel, Kabira Country Club, Forest Cottages, Speke Apartments and Dolphin Suites.
Speke Resort Munyonyo has established itself as an important destination for international conferences, business meetings and high-profile gatherings, including the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the January 2024 Non-Aligned Movement and G77 plus China summits.
Paradise Island introduces a different dimension to the group’s hospitality investments by shifting part of its offering towards private-island tourism, nature, water-based recreation and exclusive accommodation.
Its location on Lake Victoria also provides an opportunity to strengthen domestic tourism by giving Ugandans access to a luxury holiday destination within the country without having to travel to coastal destinations abroad.
This investment represents another expansion of its hospitality business. With its private-island setting, 38 accommodation units, solar-powered operations, passenger speedboats and dedicated cargo barge, Paradise Island is positioning itself as a distinctive addition to Uganda’s luxury hospitality market.
