By Frank Kamuntu
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has pledged Shs50 million to support a major medical outreach initiative organized by the Ruparelia Foundation aimed at restoring sight to thousands of people in Eastern Uganda.
The pledge was made during the official launch of the RR Eye Camp Bukedea held at Kabira Country Club on Tuesday evening. The outreach is being organized in honour of the late Rajiv Ruparelia, son of prominent businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, who died in a tragic accident along Busabala Road in May last year.
The event brought together members of the Ruparelia family, medical experts, government leaders, partners and members of the media to unveil the initiative that will provide free eye treatment to underserved communities in Bukedea District and the wider Teso Sub-Region.
Speaking during the launch, Jyotsna Ruparelia, director at the Ruparelia Group, said the eye camp holds special meaning for the family because it is dedicated to the memory of their son Rajiv, who strongly believed in helping communities.
“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. Whether through education, sports or community initiatives, he always encouraged us to do more and reach further to help people.”
She described Rajiv as someone who had a natural instinct to support others and a deep love for Uganda.
“Losing Rajiv is the greatest pain our family has ever experienced. But what gives us strength is continuing the work and the spirit of generosity he believed in,” she said.
Jyotsna also shared an emotional moment, recalling that Rajiv had personally encouraged the organization of the eye camp shortly before his death.
“Rajiv actually messaged me in March last year and said, ‘Mom, just fix the date for the eye camp and I will do the rest.’ Little did I know that I would be standing here today without him.”
The RR Eye Camp Bukedea is scheduled to take place from March 27 to March 29, 2026 at Bukedea Teaching Hospital.
Organizers say the outreach will screen at least 2,000 patients and conduct approximately 300 cataract surgeries, including 50 specialized surgeries for children. More than 800 reading glasses will also be distributed, alongside prescription glasses for children who need vision correction.
Jyotsna explained that the camp will be unique because surgical theatres and treatment services will be set up directly in Bukedea so that patients do not need to travel to urban hospitals.
“For thousands of people, a simple surgery or a pair of glasses can completely transform their lives,” she said. “A child can return to school, a parent can work again and an elderly person can regain independence.”
Medical specialists from Mulago National Referral Hospital who will participate in the outreach also highlighted the scale of eye health challenges in Uganda.
Dr Grace Ssali, an ophthalmologist at Mulago, said cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in the country.
“The commonest cause of blindness in Uganda is cataracts,” she said. “Once people reach around 40 years of age, the lens in the eye begins to become cloudy and the only treatment is surgery.”
She explained that cataract surgery in private facilities can cost around Shs5 million for a single eye, a cost that many patients cannot afford.
Dr Grace revealed that during a previous medical camp in Bukedea last year, doctors screened more than 6,000 people and identified over 200 patients who required cataract surgery but were unable to receive treatment due to financial limitations.
“This time we are grateful that the Ruparelia Group and other sponsors are helping us conduct these surgeries in Bukedea,” she said.
She also noted that the outreach will help identify and treat glaucoma, another major cause of irreversible blindness. Early detection, she said, can prevent permanent vision loss.
The camp will also focus on children with vision problems. Doctors plan to carry out more than 50 delicate surgeries on children whose eyesight can still be saved if treated early.
“Operating on a child is very delicate and costly, but it is extremely important because if we delay treatment the blindness may become permanent,” Dr Grace explained.
The medical team will also distribute about 1,000 spectacles to adults suffering from presbyopia, a condition that affects near vision as people age. Many children with myopia, or short sightedness, will also receive prescription glasses.
In her remarks, Speaker Anita Among praised the Ruparelia family for honoring Rajiv’s legacy through community service.
“Today we remember our beloved son and friend who was full of life and love,” she said.
Among revealed that she had a close relationship with Rajiv and his family and thanked them for choosing Bukedea as the location for the eye camp.
“You chose the right place. Rajiv was very dear to me and I thank you for bringing this initiative to the people of Bukedea,” she said.
She pledged strong support from Bukedea Teaching Hospital, the Anita Foundation, and local leaders to ensure the success of the outreach.
“As friends of Rajiv we must keep his legacy alive,” Among said before announcing a contribution of Shs50 million towards the initiative.
She also commended the Ruparelia Group for its contribution to Uganda’s economy through investment and employment, and thanked Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda, for creating an environment that supports business and development.
According to organizers, the eye camp is part of a broader effort to address limited access to eye care in rural Uganda, where millions of people suffer from preventable vision problems due to lack of medical services and the high cost of treatment.
By bringing medical equipment, specialists and surgical theatres directly to Bukedea, the initiative aims to restore sight, independence and hope to hundreds of people who would otherwise remain in preventable darkness.
RR Eye Camp is sponsored by;
Mulago Hospital
Joban Group
SINO – Uganda Mbale Industrial Park
Krisha International Ltd
Dembe
Goldstar Insurance
Swastik Pharmaceuticals
Kabira Country Club
Indian Association
Midas floors – C-Care – Royal Pharma 2011 Ltd – Pepsi – Win World Impex Ltd – Gittoes Pharmaceuticals Ltd – Lato – Abacus – Sanyu FM – Rene Industries Ltd
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