Ugandan businessman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia has added his voice to the growing calls for the removal of visa restrictions within Africa. He believes that a single African passport would change the way Africans trade, travel, and connect with each other, saying such a move could open the continent to new opportunities in business and integration.
“As a successful African businessman, I strongly believe that a single passport and visa-free Africa will transform the way we trade, travel and communicate. Imagine engaging with 1.2 billion people in Africa directly for business,” said Sudhir, the Chairman of the Ruparelia Group and Uganda’s richest man.
The billionaire made these remarks ahead of his expected appearance as Guest of Honour at the Eighth Pan African Pyramid Global Awards 2025 and the 11th anniversary bonfire dinner, which will take place on August 30th at Fairway Hotel in Kampala. His presence at the event is already drawing attention, but his comments on a visa-free Africa have added a new level of weight to the debate.
Sudhir’s call comes at a time when the discussion over free movement within Africa is gaining strong momentum. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 places visa-free travel as one of its major goals, highlighting it as a step that can unlock Africa’s full potential. A number of countries are already taking action. Ghana became the most recent to open its borders in January 2025, joining Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin, all of which have lifted visa restrictions for African citizens.
In East Africa, the idea is no longer just theory. The region already uses a shared passport that allows citizens of East African Community member states to travel freely within the bloc. This has made trade and movement easier and has become one of the success stories of regional cooperation. Sudhir believes this example should encourage the entire continent to follow suit.
“Let’s start the conversation from the Pearl of Africa. One Africa, One Passport, One Future,” he said, emphasizing that Uganda can be at the center of this discussion.
Support for a single African passport is not just about easing travel. Advocates argue that it could unlock the full power of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), making it simpler for businesses to trade goods and services across borders. With Africa’s population now over 1.2 billion, leaders like Sudhir believe that visa-free travel would give businesses access to one of the largest untapped markets in the world.
Economists also note that the cost of visas, the time spent on applications, and the barriers faced at borders discourage investment and travel between African states. Removing these hurdles would allow African entrepreneurs to move as freely within Africa as they do within other regions of the world, boosting tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.
Sudhir Ruparelia’s voice carries weight not only because of his wealth but also because of his track record of investing in Uganda’s growth. As a businessman whose empire spans real estate, hospitality, banking, insurance, education, and agriculture, his words often influence both policymakers and fellow entrepreneurs. His call for unity through one African passport adds a private-sector push to what has often been seen as a political debate.
As Africa continues to push for regional integration and economic transformation, calls from influential leaders in business are likely to speed up discussions and influence governments. A borderless Africa has long been a dream on paper, but with business voices like Sudhir Ruparelia urging action, the path toward that vision could gain new energy.
