Bukedea, Uganda: Ugandan billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Dr Sudhir Ruparelia on Saturday warmed hearts at the ongoing Rajiv Ruparelia (RR) Free Eye Camp after gifting a 104-year-old Esther Amoding, a brand new elderly wheelchair, a moment that captured the compassion driving the outreach.
The centenarian, one of the oldest beneficiaries at the camp hosted at Bukedea Teaching Hospital, was visibly overwhelmed as she received the wheelchair on the evening, breaking into prayers and blessings for Sudhir’s long life and continued generosity.
Witnesses described the moment as deeply emotional, with the elderly woman, frail and previously struggling with mobility, finally regaining a sense of dignity and ease of movement.
The gesture unfolded amid the high-impact medical outreach organized by the Ruparelia Foundation in memory of the late Rajiv Ruparelia, which has drawn thousands seeking free eye care services.
While the primary focus of the camp is eye screening, surgeries, and treatment, Saturday’s moment between the beneficiary elderly and Sudhir unpacked a broader mission; restoring dignity and hope to vulnerable communities.
For the 104-year-old, the wheelchair represents more than mobility; it is a lifeline to independence after years of physical limitation.
The RR Eye Camp which kicked off on Friday, March 27, has already screened thousands of patients, conducted dozens of life-changing surgeries, distributed hundreds of eyeglasses and provided medication and referrals for complex cases.
Yet, stories like that of the elderly woman and the Ugandan billionaire businessman emerge as some of the most powerful symbols of the outreach’s human impact.
Sudhir’s gesture reflects the long-standing philanthropic footprint of the Ruparelia family, whose foundation continues to invest in community health, education, and social support initiatives across Uganda.
The Bukedea outreach, held in partnership with multiple medical teams from Mulago National Referral Hospital and C-Care, and volunteers, has attracted beneficiaries from across the Teso sub-region and beyond, including neighboring districts and even parts of Kenya.
The camp winds down tomorrow, Sunday, March 29, with an expected grand closure by Speaker Anita Among, the founder of Bukedea Teaching Hospital where the outreach is being held.
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