Over 3,000 people have received free eye care services during a three-day medical outreach in Bukedea district, as the Ruparelia Foundation and its partners stepped in to address Uganda’s growing burden of preventable blindness.
The camp, held at Bukedea Teaching Hospital from March 27, attracted patients from across the Teso sub-region and neighbouring areas of Bugisu, many of whom had lived for years with untreated eye conditions due to high treatment costs and limited access to specialised care.
Among the beneficiaries was Romano Akure Omutuj, a former Radio Uganda broadcaster, whose deteriorating vision had forced him into early retirement. Like many in rural Uganda, he had resigned himself to a life of limited sight until the outreach brought services closer to home.
“If such camps had come earlier, I would have been helped,” he said, expressing gratitude for the initiative that has now restored his ability to see clearly.
From Silent Suffering to Restored Sight
According to Sheena Ruparelia, the outreach coordinator, the camp has gone beyond screening to deliver actual treatment, with 265 surgeries successfully conducted, including 25 for children.
“We don’t just screen and send patients away,” she said. “We make sure they receive treatment. That is what makes the difference.”
The overwhelming turnout prompted organisers to extend the camp by an additional three days to cater for more than 200 patients who were still awaiting surgery.
The Bukedea outreach comes against the backdrop of a growing national eye health crisis. Uganda has an estimated 2.5 million people living with moderate to severe visual impairment and more than 150,000 completely blind, with cataracts alone accounting for over 57% of blindness cases. Yet the country has only about 40–60 ophthalmologists serving a population of over 45 million people, leaving many communities without access to specialised care.
For many patients, the challenge is not just availability—but affordability. A single cataract surgery can cost up to UGX 5 million per eye, while a pair of spectacles can cost as much as UGX 1 million, placing treatment far beyond the reach of most rural households.
The Bukedea Eye Camp was designed to directly confront these barriers by bringing services to the community. Over the course of the outreach, more than 2,000 patients were targeted for screening, with approximately 300 surgeries planned, including around 50 for children, and over 800 reading glasses alongside hundreds of prescription spectacles distributed.
Beyond Screening: Delivering Treatment Where It Matters Most
Unlike many medical outreaches in Uganda that focus primarily on screening, the Ruparelia Foundation emphasised treatment and surgical intervention, deploying a team of more than 25 Ugandan doctors and nurses to ensure that patients receive not just diagnoses, but life-changing care.
The Tide is Turning: Kampala Women Step Boldly Into Leadership at 2026 Dominate ConferenceThe camp also introduced specialised paediatric eye care—an uncommon feature in most outreach programmes—offering both corrective glasses and surgical procedures for children at risk of permanent vision loss.
Organisers said the decision to focus on Bukedea was informed by both need and urgency, noting that a prior screening exercise had identified more than 200 patients requiring cataract surgery, many of whom had been living with treatable conditions without access to care.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort by the Ruparelia Foundation to expand access to healthcare while honouring the legacy of the late Rajiv Ruparelia, who died in May 2025.
“Rajiv always went beyond the norm,” Sheena said. “This is our way of continuing that spirit of giving.”
Beneficiaries described the outreach as both timely and transformative. Celestine Akept said the camp spared her a costly journey in search of treatment.
“They have saved me from going to Tororo. I have received medication and reading glasses for free,” she said.
Victoria University Vice Chancellor Prof. Lawrence Muganga, a close associate of the late Rajiv, commended the initiative, describing him as a compassionate individual committed to uplifting communities.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among also praised the outreach, noting that such initiatives complement government efforts in addressing healthcare gaps, particularly in underserved regions.
Health experts at the camp observed that a significant number of patients presented with untreated conditions, underscoring the urgent need for sustained investment and national attention to eye health services.
The Bukedea eye camp, the fourth of its kind organised by the Foundation since 2012, highlights both the scale of Uganda’s eye health challenge and the transformative impact of bringing specialised care directly to communities.
In addition to eye care services, the outreach also hosted a blood donation drive, collecting over 420 units of blood, further extending its impact beyond vision care.
