Zombo medical camp draws thousands ahead of Museveni’s visit
By midday on the first day, more than 500 eye patients had been examined, with 10 cases of treatable blindness identified.
Zombo: A high-impact medical outreach camp in Zombo District has drawn over 1,000 patients from across the Greater Nebbi region, in a community-driven healthcare initiative spearheaded by leading ophthalmologist Dr. Amos Nyathirombo.
The camp, held at Warr Health Centre IV and Warr Islamic Health Centre II was launched on June 16, 2025, in advance of a thanksgiving ceremony honoring Dr. Nyathirombo’s decades of public health service, to be held on June 20, with President Yoweri Museveni expected to attend.
The camp provides free, specialized medical services to underserved communities, addressing conditions such as preventable blindness, gynecological issues, pediatric ailments, and hearing loss.
A team of professionals from regional hospitals including Gulu, Arua, Bukedea, and Nyapea joined forces with 10 Muni University alumni to deliver care.
“This is about giving back,” said Dr. Nyathirombo. “We are seeing people with reversible blindness. With timely surgery, some could regain sight by tomorrow.”
By midday on the first day, more than 500 eye patients had been examined, with 10 cases of treatable blindness identified.
However, the overwhelming demand has strained the camp’s resources, with medications running low. Dr. Nyathirombo appealed for additional support, including food and essentials for the medical team.
Among the many touched by the camp include Patrick Bikadhu Othuma, Zombo’s Senior Education Officer, received spectacles to resolve reading challenges, Florence, from Ajei Central Village, sought relief from chronic eye irritation and Sara Rachid, from Atyenda Central, hoped for treatment for persistent chest problems.
These testimonials reflect a widespread need for accessible healthcare in rural Uganda, where the doctor-to-patient ratio is an alarming 1:25,725, far below the World Health Organization’s standard of 1:1,000.
With only 41 ophthalmologists serving over 40 million Ugandans, and 26 based in Kampala, rural areas are underserved. Eye-related conditions like cataracts, trachoma, and refractive errors remain the leading causes of blindness. A 2018 report cited 170,000 Ugandans blind from cataracts, with 34,000 new cases annually.
In refugee populations, such as Adjumani, blindness prevalence stands at 20%, underscoring the urgent need for outreach programs like this.
About Dr. Amos Nyathirombo
Dr. Nyathirombo is internationally recognized for his contributions to ophthalmology and public health. His research on Moxidectin, approved by the U.S. FDA in 2018 for river blindness, and leadership in Uganda’s Trachoma Control Programme, helped secure WHO support to eliminate the disease as a national public health threat.
He was recently awarded the Diamond Jubilee Medal on March 8, 2025, and continues to mentor future healthcare professionals at Gulu University while offering free sight-saving surgeries across Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The upcoming thanksgiving ceremony at Ukemu Primary School is themed: “Service with Sacrifice, Dedication, and Passion”, and will spotlight the life-changing power of community-based health initiatives.
Dr. Benson Oloya, a Muni University lecturer and chair of the organizing committee, urged local leaders and development partners to support similar programs. “Stakeholder collaboration is crucial to ensuring that no one is left behind in the quest for health equity,” he said.
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