Business magnate Sudhir Ruparelia has been formally welcomed into the Teso community. The induction took place at Bukedea Teaching Hospital during the closing ceremony of a three-day eye medical camp held in honour of his late son, Rajiv Ruparelia.
Presided over by the Emorimor of the Iteso, Paul Sande Emolot, the ceremony saw Sudhir given the name “Eminat Sudhir” — a symbolic gesture of acceptance and respect within the Teso cultural institution. His wife, Jyotsna Ruparelia, was also inducted.
The outreach, dubbed the Rajiv Ruparelia Eye Camp, drew thousands from across the Teso sub-region, highlighting the area’s pressing eye healthcare needs.
More than 5,000 patients — both adults and children — received free services ranging from eye examinations and cataract screening to surgeries and provision of reading and prescription glasses.
Beyond the medical intervention, Sudhir pledged Shs50 million to support the Teso Cultural Union. The contribution is expected to support community-driven programmes under the cultural institution.
The event also delivered a boost to local healthcare infrastructure. An ambulance donated by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, together with Bukedea MP-elect David Beecham Okwere, was handed over to the hospital.
The new addition is expected to improve emergency response, particularly in reducing maternal deaths and handling critical cases in the district.
