It was a glamorous day in the Ugandan eye care fraternity as the 5th Cohort of locally trained optometrists received their degrees at the Makerere University Freedom square on 13th February 2023. The robustly trained graduates underwent four years of training in biomedical sciences, clinical optometry, public health optometry and health research. Additionally, they were subjected to internship training to polish their skills and build sufficient competence to meet the great eye health needs of the global population. This cohort of 16 graduates adds to the fast-expanding optometry fraternity in Uganda, which was founded by veteran foreign-trained Ugandan optometrists. Having graduated five cohorts of optometrists so far, Makerere University is the only institution providing optometry training in Uganda.
This development is a major milestone in the drive by various stakeholders to transform the previously neglected eye health sector needs in the country. As a result of the joint effort of passionate leaders, government and non-governmental organisations including Light for the World, Brien Holden Foundation, Optometry Giving Sight and the Australian Government, Uganda has over 50 optometrists, of whom 41 were locally trained. This optometric force will go a long way towards universalizing access to eye health services in the country of over 45 million citizens. Currently, there are at least 55 Optometry students enrolled at Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
The graduates have been unleashed into a sector with various challenges such as shortage of equipment, low affordability of services due to the low national per capita income and a poor attitude towards eye health services. However, this creates opportunities for them to make real impact in clinical and public health spheres of eye care.
The Optometrists Association of Uganda, the custodian of the interests and standards of optometry in Uganda, will provide the needed guidance and support to the new optometrists to be able to navigate the sometimes-complex terrain of social service. The graduates will be guided through the processes necessary to ensure legal compliance and ethical practice, such as registration with the Uganda Allied Health Professionals Council and the provision of Continuing Professional Development.
The Optometry fraternity congratulates the new graduates and welcomes them to this noble profession. We wish them the very best as they start their careers.
