Uganda scales up eye care to tackle blindness in preterm babies

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Uganda is intensifying its campaign to prevent blindness in premature babies by scaling up eye‑care services through pioneering collaboration.

The collaborations with Ubora Foundation Africa, Eye Health Africa, Global Health Partnerships, and the health ministry aim at equipping hospitals like Hoima Regional Referral with life‑saving training, specialist support, and critical equipment to detect and treat retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

At a symposium on June 26, 2025, experts, government officials and frontline health workers united to confront the country’s growing eye‑health challenges, especially ROP, a leading cause of childhood blindness, and age‑related conditions like cataracts.

Since February 2024, the collaborative project has delivered intensive on‑site training at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital.

Clinical teams of neonatal nurses, midwives, ophthalmic officers, and doctors have been equipped with skills to diagnose and manage ROP.

They’ve also received critical tools, including oxygen blenders and bubble CPAP machines, vital in controlling oxygen levels, which, if improperly used, fuel ROP.

Adding on-the‑ground expertise to the mix, UK specialists from Moorfields Eye Hospital and Eye Health Africa trained local clinicians in advanced diagnostic techniques and patient management, closing knowledge gaps and boosting confidence in managing preterm babies at risk.

Elias Musiime, CEO of Ubora Foundation Africa talking to journalists. (Photo by Dallen Namugga)

Elias Musiime, CEO of Ubora Foundation Africa, emphasised the power of collaboration.

“We believe that continued partnerships, knowledge sharing, and support from the Ministry of Health, donors, and funders are essential to creating a lasting impact,” Musiime stated.

He highlighted the need for “specialised equipment and training to diagnose and treat eye health problems effectively.”

Primrose Magala, CEO of Eye Health Africa and now at Moorfields Eye Hospital, brought a personal dimension.

“When I visited Moorfields, I was struck by the comprehensive eye care services they offered. In contrast, when I returned to Uganda, I saw people desperate for treatment, particularly those with cataracts,” she said.

Echoing Musiime, Magala called for empowered local professionals.

“We want to empower ophthalmic clinical officers and nurses to provide quality care, just like at Moorfields. With a bit of funding and support, we can achieve our goals and make Uganda a centre of excellence for eye care,” Magala added.

She pointed out that cataracts remain “a major cause of visual impairment” in Uganda, noting that, according to WHO, they account for over half of blindness cases in the country.

Plea for sustained action

With the symposium winding down, organisers reiterated their vision: Uganda can lead Africa in eye care, but only with ongoing investment, strong partnerships, and local ownership.

“We’re working towards sustainability and self‑sufficiency, and we invite more partners to join us in this effort,” Magala said. “Together, we can make a significant impact and improve the lives of millions of people in Uganda and beyond.”

A growing ROP problem

As neonatal care improves, Uganda is facing a surge in ROP, a condition historically less common due to high mortality in preterm babies. But as more survive, blind spots are emerging.

A 2023 study by Dr Iddi Ndyabawe identified a 5.7 % ROP prevalence among preterm infants in Kampala’s tertiary hospitals, with infants weighing under 1,500 g being especially vulnerable. 

Alarmingly, many cases are high‑stages (3–5), with about two-thirds requiring treatment. Dr Ndyabawe and colleagues have sounded the alarm that, without widespread screening and tighter oxygen control, Uganda risks a full‑blown ROP epidemic.

Oxygen control saves sight

ROP isn't just about poverty or genetics; it’s tightly linked to how oxygen is administered. Ugandan NICUs often lack oxygen blenders, leading to unmonitored high concentrations of oxygen, which spur abnormal retinal growth.

A recent Uganda case series found that premature infants exposed to unblended oxygen developed severe ROP within just two weeks, much faster than standard guidelines predict.

Training staff and ensuring proper oxygen delivery, as done in Hoima, is therefore crucial to halting early disease progression and reducing blindness risk.

Uganda’s efforts tie into a broader global movement. The Stop Infant Blindness in Africa (SIBA) initiative, which underpins the Uganda work, showed strong results in preventing severe ROP through coordinated training and oxygen management 

What needs to happen

To achieve this, experts said Uganda should expand ROP screening to all NICUs, including regional hospitals like Hoima and major centres in Kampala, ensure every unit has oxygen blenders and monitoring tools, and empower frontline staff through continuous training and mentorship from specialists like those at Moorfields.

Additionally, eye health should be integrated into broader public health programs for early detection of chronic conditions like cataracts and diabetic eye disease, while scaling innovations such as telemedicine.