The Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Free Eye Camp closed on a high note in Bukedea District, with organisers announcing that a total of 507 surgeries were successfully conducted during the three-day medical outreach.
Held at Bukedea Teaching Hospital, the camp drew thousands of patients from across Eastern Uganda, offering free eye care services in tribute to the late businessman and philanthropist Rajiv Ruparelia.
According to the final camp summary, the 507 surgeries included 306 male beneficiaries and 201 female beneficiaries, while 34 children were also among those treated during the outreach.
The camp, organised by the Ruparelia Foundation, provided free eye screening, treatment, cataract surgeries and spectacles, with many patients receiving care they would otherwise have struggled to access.
The closing ceremony was marked by both celebration and recognition, as business magnate Dr Sudhir Ruparelia announced a Shs50 million contribution to the Iteso Kingdom.
In appreciation of his family’s continued philanthropy and support to the Teso sub-region, the Emorimor of Teso, Paul Sande Emolot, inducted Sudhir and his wife into the Iteso community, bestowing upon him the name “Eminat Sudhir.”
The event also saw a major boost to local health services, with a brand-new ambulance handed over to the people of Bukedea. The ambulance was donated by Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among and Kachumbala County MP-Elect David Beecham Okwere.
The eye camp was held in memory of Rajiv Ruparelia, whose family has continued to honour his legacy through charitable initiatives focused on healthcare, youth empowerment and community development.
Over the course of the outreach, several emotional moments were witnessed, including vulnerable patients receiving treatment and support, underscoring the camp’s impact beyond medicine.
With 507 surgeries completed and hundreds more screened and treated, the Bukedea camp has been widely hailed as one of the most impactful community medical outreaches held in the region in recent times.
The Ruparelia Foundation has since announced that the memorial eye camp will continue as part of Rajiv Ruparelia’s enduring legacy of service, compassion and hope.
