Eye glasses distribution

Improving Vision among People, Host and Refugee Communities in Uganda

As part of Community Focus International’s Mission of providing sustainable improvements in the quality of life of deprived children, vulnerable women and youth through a process that creates social inclusion, unity and adds meaningful value to lives, it has donated over 2,800 pairs of eyeglasses across Northern Uganda.

This donation is in collaboration with Global Vision 2020 with the aim of boosting vision among the people especially in reading and carrying out effective businesses in their communities that can bridge the existing inequality gaps.

Among the communities served already include the Districts Lira, Kole, Oyam, Dokolo in Lango Sub region, Padre and Kitgum Districts in Acholi Sub region, Kaberamaido District in Eastern and Kiryandongo District in Bunyoro Sub region.

There is urgent and high demand for the eye glasses among the communities of Northern Uganda which was realized recently Community Focus International (CFI) held a mass distribution of the eye glasses to the host and refugee areas of Kiryandongo District, but the acquisition of glasses remains a challenge for such people in terms of funds.

During the distribution, a total of 736 pairs of eyeglasses were donated to the refugee and host communities of Kiryandongo District just within a period of two months which is February and April 2026.

According to the 2019 World Health Organization Report, at least 2.2 billion people around the world have a vision impairment, of whom at least 1 billion have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed. The world faces considerable challenges in terms of eye care, including inequalities in the coverage and quality of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services; a shortage of trained eye care service providers; and poor integration of eye care services into health systems, among others.

Emma Achola, 84-year-old resident of Nyakaja West in Kichwabugingo Ward, Kiryangdongo District, felt more relieved after getting a pair of donated eyeglasses saying she could not afford any since 2013.

Achola who started using a pair of spectacles between 1960 and 1975 narrated her inability to attain another pair of eyeglasses from 2013 up to date when CFI gave her one because she didn’t have money saying the eye problem when she was still young and studying.

“My health has not been very good in terms of eye, my left eye is completely dim, now I’m using only my right eye, the doctor operated my left twice and later said they couldn’t do anything about it, sometime when I start to read, it gets dim, and it was very difficult for me get another because a doctor here in Bweyale said a pair is 50,000 shilling which I could not afford it, I am grateful and thank you to the Community Focus International for their assistance for providing me with a pair of eyeglasses, I am able to read everything peacefully without interruption,” Achola narrated

Other beneficiaries say the eye glasses are helping them regain independence, enabling them to read, work, and improve their livelihoods.

Philip Benjamine, a pastor in the settlement, shared that the support has restored his confidence and reading ability.

“For a long time, I struggled to read the Bible while preaching, but now, I am relieved and grateful for this support,” He shared

Other people that got the eye glasses said they will be able to read and write very well as well as carry out other productive activities.

Sharon Candiro, who also lives on of the settlements in Kiryandongo District said, “I used to have challenges in writing and reading, even watching Television, but now, these eye glasses will help me write, read and perform other productive activities.”

Ponsiano Coda, the Co-Founder and Program Director at Community Focus International said the demand for the eyeglasses is still high.

Coda further said that the eye glasses are improving the socialization lives of the different categories of people in the community by enabling them to access community services easily.

 He called upon the people who are still interested in the eye glasses to always keep in touch with the organization saying it is helpful.

“I want to call upon people out there who are in need of eye glasses to always be close to us but also thank our Donar, we want to say we are so grateful for the eye glasses because it is really changing lives, its giving people opportunity to access the services that they were not able to,” He called upon.

By distributing eyeglasses across Northern Uganda, the program is not only restoring sight but also empowering individuals to regain independence, improve livelihoods, and actively participate in their communities.