By Nathan Eyagu 

SERERE DISTRICT — A wave of patients has descended on Serere Health Centre IV as a free eye-care campaign delivers life-changing cataract surgeries to hundreds of people who could not afford the cost of treatment.

The five-day medical outreach, running from 7 to 11 October 2026, is providing free cataract operations, medicines, spectacles and other eye-care services to beneficiaries from Serere, the wider Teso region and beyond.

The exercise is organised by the Opolot Fred Foundation in partnership with the North Indian Cultural Association of Uganda (NICA) and is led by Fred Opolot, former Member of Parliament for Pingire County and director of the foundation.

Opolot said the initiative was intended to make specialised healthcare accessible to communities that often cannot afford treatment.

The camp has attracted patients from across Teso and other regions, including Lango, highlighting the demand for affordable specialised medical services.

“What is important is how you feel about your people,” Opolot said, explaining that leaving Parliament had not ended his commitment to serving the community.

He said cataract surgery can cost between Shs1 million and Shs5 million in private facilities, making it inaccessible to many rural residents.

The cataract operations are being conducted by specialist doctors from Mulago National Referral Hospital, led by senior consultant Dr. Ssali Grace.

Dr. Ssali said cataracts are a common eye condition, particularly among older people, and surgery remains the main treatment.

The medical team conducted 12 cataract operations on the first day, followed by about 45 operations on another day. Nearly 300 patients have been identified for surgery during the current camp.

Beneficiaries are also receiving free post-operative eye drops, medicines, spectacles and other essential medical supplies.

Dr. Ssali said the current intervention follows an earlier camp where about 500 patients were identified for surgery, with more than 300 operations successfully conducted.

For many beneficiaries, the outreach has opened a door to treatment they had previously been unable to afford.

Ocera Pius, a resident of Atira Sub-county, said he had previously failed to undergo an eye operation because he could not raise the required money.

After hearing about the Serere camp on radio, he travelled to the health centre and became one of the first patients to undergo surgery.

Pius welcomed the initiative and appealed to other leaders to support similar interventions for communities struggling to access healthcare.

Another beneficiary, Opolot Micheal, who travelled from Lango sub region, received treatment after a foreign body affected his eye.

“I feel better right now after the foreign body was removed from my eye. I can see better,” Ernayo said.

He thanked the organisers and sponsors for providing the service free of charge.

Opolot credited NICA for its significant contribution to the outreach, saying the organisation had supported the programme by funding doctors, medicines and other medical requirements.

He said the Opolot Fred Foundation's major role was community mobilisation and ensuring that people in need were informed about the opportunity.

Opolot also thanked the media for helping create awareness about the camp and encouraging patients to seek treatment.

Local stakeholders, including Richard Emanio, have welcomed the initiative while calling for continued investment in healthcare services in Serere, particularly surgical services.

The free medical camp continues at Serere Health Centre IV until 11th October 2026, with organisers encouraging people with eye-related conditions to take advantage of the services while they remain available.