The spirit of service that defined the late Rajiv Ruparelia is set to restore sight and hope to thousands of Ugandans as the Ruparelia Foundation launches a major medical outreach programme valued at an estimated UGX 1.7 billion in free eye care services for communities in Eastern Uganda.
The initiative, known as the RR Eye Camp Bukedea, will take place from March 27 to March 29, 2026, at Bukedea Teaching Hospital, where doctors and medical teams will screen more than 2,000 patients, perform approximately 300 eye surgeries, and distribute hundreds of free spectacles to those suffering from preventable vision impairment.
The eye camp was officially unveiled during a launch event in Kampala attended by government leaders, medical professionals, partners and members of the Ruparelia family, all united by a shared goal: expanding access to eye care for underserved communities while honouring Rajiv Ruparelia’s enduring legacy of philanthropy.
A Tribute to Rajiv Ruparelia’s Spirit of Service
For the Ruparelia family, the Bukedea eye camp carries deep emotional significance. Speaking at the launch, Jyotsna Ruparelia, a director of the Ruparelia Foundation, described the initiative as a continuation of the values that Rajiv lived by.
“This eye camp is very special to us because it is being carried out in the name of our son, Rajiv,” she said.
“Rajiv believed deeply in giving back. It was natural for him to help people and uplift communities across this country.”
She explained that the family’s decision to organise the camp in Bukedea was inspired by Rajiv’s passion for initiatives that created direct and meaningful impact.
“What gives us strength is continuing his work and his spirit of generosity—something he believed in very strongly,” she added.
Through the three-day outreach programme, medical teams aim to screen thousands of residents, identify eye conditions early and provide treatment that many families would otherwise be unable to afford.
“Sight is something many of us take for granted,” Jyotsna said. “But for thousands of people in our communities, a simple surgery or a pair of glasses can transform their lives.”
Tackling Uganda’s Preventable Blindness Crisis
Uganda continues to face significant challenges in access to specialised eye care, particularly in rural areas where treatment services are limited and often unaffordable.
According to medical experts involved in the initiative, conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma remain among the leading causes of blindness in the country—yet many of these cases are treatable if detected early.
Dr. Grace Ssali, a leading ophthalmologist from Mulago National Referral Hospital, who will be part of the medical team conducting surgeries at the camp, emphasised the urgent need for outreach programmes that bring healthcare closer to communities.
“The only treatment for cataracts is surgery, and it is quite expensive—about UGX 5 million for a single eye,” she said.
“Most of our patients simply cannot afford that.”
She explained that many patients with severe eye conditions delay treatment because of financial barriers or the cost of travelling long distances to hospitals in Kampala.
“Many people are not able to come to Mulago because they cannot afford the transport or they fear coming to a big hospital,” Dr. Ssali said.
“So we are very happy when we reach them directly in the communities and operate on them.”
During the Bukedea camp, the medical team expects to perform approximately 250 cataract surgeries for adults and about 50 specialised surgeries for children, conditions that, if left untreated, could result in permanent blindness.
“When a child becomes blind and surgery is delayed, the blindness can become irreversible because their brain and visual pathways are still developing,” Dr. Ssali noted.
Operating on children early, she added, can dramatically improve their ability to learn, develop and live independent lives.
Free Spectacles and Vision Screening
Beyond surgeries, the camp will also address more common but equally disruptive vision problems affecting adults and children.
Organisers expect to distribute more than 800 reading glasses and hundreds of prescription spectacles for children, helping individuals suffering from conditions such as presbyopia and myopia regain clear vision.
Inside Uganda’s Gorilla Permit System: Where Does a Gorilla Permit Shilling Go?“When people reach about 40 years, many develop presbyopia and need spectacles,” Dr. Ssali explained.
“We are very happy that about 1,000 pairs of spectacles will be given free of charge to people who cannot afford them.”
Access to spectacles can often determine whether adults can continue working or children can read and participate effectively in school.
For many beneficiaries, the camp will represent the first opportunity in years to receive proper eye care.
Strong Government and Community Support
The initiative has received strong backing from national leaders, including the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, who attended the launch and pledged support for the programme.
“I am delighted to join you today in launching this very important initiative initiated by the Ruparelia family in remembrance of my very good friend, the late Rajiv,” she said.
Among praised the foundation for choosing Bukedea as the location for the outreach programme, noting that the region has significant unmet healthcare needs.
“I want to thank you for choosing Bukedea. I can assure you that you chose the right place,” she said.
“Through this eye camp, you are bringing healthcare services nearer to the people of Eastern Uganda, complementing what the government is doing.”
To demonstrate the government’s commitment to the initiative, the Speaker also announced a financial contribution toward the programme.
“As part of our support, we are making a contribution of UGX 50 million toward this medical camp,” she revealed.
Among others, they also emphasised the importance of sustaining Rajiv Ruparelia’s legacy through initiatives that uplift communities.
“We need to keep Rajiv’s name alive. His legacy must continue through initiatives like this,” she said.
Partnerships Powering the Initiative
The Bukedea eye camp is being delivered through collaboration between the Ruparelia Foundation and a network of medical institutions, private companies and philanthropic partners.
Healthcare professionals from Mulago National Referral Hospital, C-Care and Bukedea Teaching Hospital will lead the screening and surgical procedures, while pharmaceutical companies and corporate sponsors are providing medicines, equipment and logistical support.
The initiative demonstrates the power of partnerships between private sector institutions, government leaders and medical professionals in addressing critical public health challenges.
By bringing specialised equipment, operating theatres and trained surgeons directly to Bukedea, organisers hope to eliminate the barriers that often prevent rural patients from receiving treatment.
Restoring Sight — and Hope
For the Ruparelia Foundation, the eye camp is more than a medical outreach—it is a continuation of Rajiv Ruparelia’s lifelong commitment to improving lives across Uganda.
Jyotsna Ruparelia said the family hopes the initiative will inspire more organisations and individuals to support healthcare programmes that directly impact communities.
“Through this eye camp, we hope to restore not only sight, but also hope,” she said.
As the medical teams prepare for the Bukedea outreach later this month, thousands of residents across the Teso region are expected to benefit from the free screenings, surgeries and spectacles that could transform their lives.
For many patients, the difference will be simple yet profound: the chance to see clearly again.
