Kitgum, Uganda: Residents of Kitgum District and the wider East Acholi sub-region have received a major boost in the fight against blindness following the commissioning of a modern eye care unit and optical workshop at St. Joseph’s Hospital Kitgum.
The multi-thousand-euro facility, funded by Christian Blind Mission (CBM), was officially commissioned on April 14, 2026, by Monsignor Martin Agwee, marking a significant expansion in access to specialised eye care services in Northern Uganda.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Monsignor Agwee said the new optical workshop would play a transformative role in improving eye health services across the region and beyond.
“We are here to commission an optical workshop that will make eyeglasses which will not only serve this region but the entire country,” he said.
He praised CBM for its continued partnership with the Catholic Church, noting that the collaboration aligns with the Church’s mission to uplift communities, and called on residents to actively participate in their own development.
Addressing long-standing gaps
CBM Uganda Country Director Jackie Marlene Kwesige said the investment was informed by the high prevalence of blindness in Kitgum compared to other districts, as well as long-standing gaps in specialised eye care.
“There were very few specialised eye units and even fewer trained professionals to operate the equipment,” she said.
Kwesige noted that CBM’s partnership with the hospital spans over seven years, beginning with support for training an ophthalmologist before expanding into infrastructure and equipment investment.
Through collaboration with CBM Italy, the organisation secured additional funding to establish a fully-fledged eye unit and optical workshop, with over 100,000 euros invested in the past year alone.
She said the facility will serve not only residents of Kitgum but also refugees and communities across the South Sudan border.
“People will no longer need to travel to Kampala for eyeglasses, surgeries, or prescriptions. These services are now available here at minimal cost,” she said.
Faster services, wider reach
The hospital’s Managing Director, Dr Pamela Atim, described the new unit as a game changer for comprehensive eye care in East Acholi.
She explained that although the hospital has been offering secondary-level eye care for the past three years, it lacked the capacity to produce spectacles on-site.
“Previously, it could take up to a week to get spectacles. Now, we can deliver them in a much shorter time,” she said.
The hospital currently screens between 200 and 300 patients weekly, with about 25% diagnosed with cataracts—one of the leading causes of blindness in the region.
On average, the facility performs between 50 and 60 cataract surgeries every week, alongside outreach programmes targeting underserved communities.
Restoring sight and dignity
Representing CBM Italy, Fabio Baret said the donation was made in memory of a supporter, Magarate, who was passionate about improving lives in Northern Uganda.
He confirmed that medical staff have already been trained to operate the new equipment, ensuring immediate service delivery.
The commissioning of the eye unit and optical workshop is expected to significantly reduce preventable blindness in the region while improving quality of life for thousands.
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