By Frank Kamuntu
The Ruparelia Foundation has officially launched the RR Eye Camp Bukedea, a large-scale medical outreach that will provide free eye care services to thousands of people in Eastern Uganda while honouring the legacy of the late Rajiv Ruparelia.
The initiative which was graced by Speaker Anita Among as the chief guest, and Foundation chairman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, family members among a group of sponsors and medical professionals was unveiled Tuesday evening at Kabira Country Club.
The eye camp, scheduled to take place from March 27 to March 29, 2026 at Bukedea Teaching Hospital in Bukedea District, is expected to screen at least 2,000 patients and conduct hundreds of life-changing surgeries for people suffering from preventable blindness.
The camp carries deep emotional significance for the Ruparelia family as it honours Rajiv Ruparelia, the son of businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, who died in a tragic road accident along Busabala Road in May last year.
Speaking during the launch, Jyotsna Ruparelia, director of the Ruparelia Group, said the initiative reflects Rajiv’s passion for philanthropy and his commitment to uplifting communities across Uganda.
“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. He always encouraged us to do more for communities and never forget the responsibility we have to uplift others.”
Jyotsna described Rajiv as someone who genuinely cared about people and had a strong connection with Uganda and its communities.
“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.
She also revealed that the idea of organizing the eye camp had been discussed with Rajiv 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.”
Through the initiative, the Ruparelia Foundation hopes to restore not only sight but also hope for thousands of people who cannot afford eye care services.
Organizers say the camp will provide free screenings, cataract surgeries, treatment for eye conditions and distribution of reading and prescription glasses to patients from Bukedea and neighbouring districts in the Teso Sub-Region.
At least 300 cataract surgeries are expected to be performed during the three-day medical outreach, including 50 specialized surgeries for children. The programme will also distribute more than 800 reading glasses and additional prescription spectacles for children suffering from vision problems.
Unlike many medical outreaches that refer patients elsewhere after screening, the Bukedea eye camp will bring full surgical theatres and medical equipment directly to the community, ensuring that patients receive treatment on site.
Medical experts from Mulago National Referral Hospital who will participate in the outreach emphasized the urgent need for such interventions.
Dr Grace Ssali, an ophthalmologist at Mulago, said cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in Uganda and are responsible for the majority of preventable vision loss cases.
“The commonest cause of blindness in Uganda is cataracts and the only treatment is surgery,” she explained. “In private hospitals, a single cataract surgery can cost around Shs5 million, which many patients simply cannot afford.”
Dr Grace said many patients in rural areas remain untreated because of the high cost of treatment and the distance they must travel to access specialized hospitals.
She revealed that during a previous medical camp in Bukedea, doctors screened over 6,000 people and identified more than 200 patients who needed cataract surgery, many of whom had been waiting for treatment.
“This time we are grateful that the Ruparelia Foundation and its partners are supporting the surgeries so that these patients can finally receive treatment,” she said.
The medical team will also use the outreach to detect and manage glaucoma, another serious eye condition that can cause irreversible blindness if not identified early.
Doctors will also focus on children with vision problems. Early treatment is critical because untreated childhood blindness can lead to permanent loss of sight as the brain’s visual pathways develop.
In addition, the outreach will distribute hundreds of spectacles to adults suffering from presbyopia, a condition that affects near vision as people age, as well as glasses for children experiencing short sightedness.
According to health experts, Uganda faces a serious shortage of eye specialists. The country has only a small number of ophthalmologists serving a population of more than 40 million people, with many based in urban centres.
As a result, rural communities often struggle to access eye care services, leaving many people living with preventable blindness.
By bringing specialists, equipment and surgical facilities directly to Bukedea, the Ruparelia Foundation hopes to close this gap and provide life-changing treatment to people who would otherwise remain untreated.
For the Ruparelia family, however, the eye camp represents something even more meaningful. It is a continuation of Rajiv Ruparelia’s vision of service to others.
“Rajiv always believed that the greatest success in life is measured not by what we achieve for ourselves, but by what we do for others,” Jyotsna said.
“To the communities of Bukedea and surrounding districts, please come. Bring your children, bring your elders and bring your neighbours. These services are yours, freely given.”
Through the RR Eye Camp Bukedea, the Ruparelia Foundation hopes to restore sight, transform lives and ensure that Rajiv Ruparelia’s legacy of compassion and community service continues to shine across Uganda.
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