Crane Plaza: Sudhir opens multi-billion building in city

Ugandan business tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia has commissioned a sh86b hardware building in the heart of Kampala.

The sprawling Crane Plaza has 10 floors with some 281 spacious shops for rent. It will also have 66 apartments and ample parking space that can accommodate 180 cars.

Sudhir, an investor and entrepreneur as well, was in the company of his family during the official opening of the new structure located at Nakasero along Entebbe road.

Friends and tenants were also at the function.

Once inside, the Ruparelia family performed an intricate prayer ritual for the new building.

Sudhir also addressed his tenants, telling them to maintain a good relationship with their clients. He told them to work hard in order to climb out of poverty.

His audience keenly took in the words of a man reported by Forbes to be the wealthiest individual in Uganda and the East African Community.

The magnate said the terms and conditions he has set are favourable to each tenant and that they should take advantage of that to make money - through selling the "right goods".

"For the first two years, rent will remain constant," he assured.

"The whole building accommodates 281 tenants. It has big corridors and parking of which the parking pass will be cost $100 (sh347,000) per month."

On their part, the tenants asked the businessman to treat them as brothers and sisters, and that if any problem arose, he should listen to them.

Rajiv Ruparelia (pictured above on the left), a director Ruparelia group of companies, told tenants that they are planning to have signposts which will be put on the building as adverts and the deal with KCCA is already complete.

Anyone who will wish to have one will have to register for it.