Prof. Muganga Backs Bukedea Eye Camp With 80 Victoria University Health Students

By Gad Masereka

The Vice Chancellor of Victoria University Kampala, Prof. Lawrence Muganga, has pledged the support of 80 health sciences students to a major eye care outreach in eastern Uganda, saying the initiative reflects the enduring humanitarian legacy of the late Rajiv Ruparelia whose vision for community service continues to transform lives.

Speaking during the official launch of the RR Eye Camp in Kampala, Muganga said the upcoming medical outreach organised by the Ruparelia Foundation will bring vital eye care services to communities that often struggle to access specialised treatment.

The camp will take place from March 27 to March 29 at Bukedea Teaching Hospital in Bukedea District, where medical teams expect to screen more than 2,000 patients and carry out hundreds of eye surgeries for people suffering from preventable blindness.

For Muganga, the significance of the outreach extends beyond medical treatment. Addressing guests at the launch event held at Kabira Country Club, he reflected on the broader social impact of restoring sight, particularly for children whose education and future opportunities depend heavily on their ability to see clearly.

“These are the things Rajiv would have loved to see,” Muganga told the audience. “Who knows, tomorrow the child who cannot see today might become one of our students. When you restore someone’s eyesight, you are not just treating a medical condition. You are restoring opportunity.”

The Vice Chancellor noted that vision is central to learning and personal development, explaining that many children in rural communities fall behind in school simply because they cannot see well enough to participate fully in class. According to him, access to treatment through initiatives such as the Bukedea eye camp could change the course of many young lives.

“If a child receives treatment today and regains their sight, that child can return to school with confidence,” Muganga said. “Education begins with the ability to see the world clearly.”

In support of the initiative, Victoria University will deploy 80 students from its health sciences programmes, including nursing, midwifery and pharmacy trainees, to assist doctors and medical teams during the outreach. The students will help conduct preliminary screenings, assist in patient care and support medical personnel performing surgeries and dispensing medication.

Muganga explained that the deployment will serve a dual purpose by strengthening the medical outreach while also giving students valuable hands on experience in community health work.

“The people assisting in examinations, helping in surgeries and supporting patients will include our students,” he said. “Through this initiative we are impacting society, but we are also preparing the next generation of health professionals to serve communities better.”

The Vice Chancellor also used the occasion to commend the Ruparelia family for their continued investment in education and social programmes in Uganda. He pointed out that the university itself was founded with a vision of expanding access to higher education, noting that the family has supported vulnerable but talented students through scholarship opportunities.

During the university’s recent graduation ceremony, he revealed, the Ruparelia family offered 100 scholarships to bright but disadvantaged Ugandans, a move he described as another demonstration of their commitment to empowering young people.

Beyond education, Muganga said the family has consistently supported initiatives aimed at improving healthcare and livelihoods across the country. He observed that many health workers currently studying at Victoria University originate from eastern Uganda, including Bukedea and neighbouring districts, which makes the university’s participation in the eye camp particularly meaningful.

As preparations continue for the outreach later this month, organisers believe the Bukedea eye camp could restore sight to hundreds of patients while preventing thousands more from slipping into avoidable blindness.

For Muganga, however, the deeper significance lies in the message behind the initiative. He said the project stands as a living reminder that Rajiv Ruparelia’s commitment to helping others continues to influence lives across the country.

“To see Rajiv touching so many people even in his absence is something powerful,” he said. “If even one child regains their sight, returns to school and one day joins the university, then that will be a legacy worth celebrating.”