Sudhir Backed India Day 2026 To Turn Cultural Celebration Into Major Healthcare Drive

By Frank Kamuntu

The Indian Association of Uganda (IAU) is preparing to turn this year’s Plascon India Day into more than a celebration of culture, with proceeds from the event set to support life-changing medical treatment for vulnerable Ugandans.

Scheduled for October 3, 2026, at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, the annual celebration supported by Sudhir Ruparelia will bring together government officials, business leaders, members of the Indian community, corporate partners and the wider public for a day of music, food, entertainment and cultural exchange.

But behind the colourful celebrations will be a major humanitarian campaign targeting children with critical heart conditions and Ugandans living with preventable blindness.

Speaking during the launch of the event, IAU Chairperson Paresh Mehta said the organisers wanted this year’s celebration to leave a lasting impact beyond the festivities.

“We are not only celebrating culture, music and food, but also making a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” Mehta said.

The humanitarian programme will support specialised cardiac treatment for about 160 children below the age of five suffering from severe heart conditions.

The children will receive treatment in India, with the programme also providing post-operative support to help them through their recovery.

Alongside the heart surgeries, organisers are targeting about 1,000 cataract operations for people across different parts of Uganda.

For many beneficiaries, the interventions could mean the difference between living with a serious medical condition or regaining the opportunity to lead healthier and more productive lives.

Mehta said the initiative reflects the Indian community’s commitment to Uganda’s social development while further strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

Established in 1904, the Indian Association of Uganda has played a role in promoting cultural exchange, community development and cooperation between Uganda and India.

Kansai Plascon Uganda Ltd is among the leading corporate partners behind this year’s initiative, continuing a broader commitment to community development and humanitarian causes.

Dr Santosh Gumte, the company’s Managing Director, said Plascon’s corporate social responsibility programmes have supported areas including healthcare, education, culture and humanitarian assistance.

The company has previously supported cancer patients, hospitals, schools and community renovation projects, while also investing in skills development by training more than 15,000 painters annually.

Gumte said partnerships such as the one with IAU demonstrate how businesses can combine their resources to create a greater social impact.

“Last year we pledged to support 100 heart surgeries and that took place. This year we are again committing to 100 heart surgeries,” he said.

Plascon will also contribute towards the cataract surgery programme being implemented as part of India Day.

The company’s continued involvement positions India Day not simply as a corporate-sponsored cultural event, but as a platform through which private-sector support can be channelled into practical community interventions.

Other corporate partners have also pledged their support, reinforcing the event’s broader business and community focus.

Tembo Steel Uganda General Manager Manish Kalla said the company believes businesses have a responsibility to give back to the communities in which they operate.

“Tembo was there, Tembo is there, and Tembo will be there. When it comes to giving back to society, we are always there,” Kalla said.

Tembo Steel has operated in Uganda for 25 years and joins other partners including Tyre Express Uganda, Bank of Baroda, Airtel Uganda and other corporate organisations supporting the initiative.

Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Dr Lawrence Muganga also praised the initiative, saying the humanitarian programme demonstrates how partnerships between the Indian community, businesses and Ugandan institutions can translate into tangible benefits for ordinary people.

He said restoring a person’s sight or giving a child suffering from a serious heart condition a chance at a healthier life creates an impact that extends far beyond the medical procedure itself.

While healthcare will be at the heart of the humanitarian campaign, Plascon India Day 2026 will retain its cultural character, featuring Indian music, food, entertainment and cultural performances.

Bollywood singer Neha Kakkar is expected to headline the celebration, adding an international entertainment dimension to the event.

Organisers say the gathering will provide an opportunity for Ugandans and members of the Indian community to celebrate their shared connections while creating a platform for businesses and individuals to contribute to causes that directly affect communities.

The event therefore brings together two dimensions of the Uganda-India relationship—cultural friendship and practical cooperation.

For the organisers and corporate partners, the ultimate measure of this year’s India Day will not only be the size of the crowd or the scale of the entertainment, but also the number of lives touched through the healthcare interventions.

With heart surgeries for children and cataract operations for people across Uganda forming a central part of the programme, Plascon India Day 2026 is positioning itself as a celebration where culture comes with a purpose and where partnership is expected to translate into lives changed.