Blind Amolatar Mother Kevin Acila Regains Sight After Nine Years

Kevin Acila, a 30-year-old resident of Etam Town Council in Amolatar District, spent nine years in darkness due to bilateral cataracts that began at age 17. Living in a modest grass-thatched home with her husband Yubu Akwanga and their five children, she depended entirely on family for everyday tasks.

The blindness brought close calls, like nearly stumbling over her newborn baby and a boda boda accident near the borehole. Her father-in-law, Felix Orech, only discovered her condition after an incident at the grain mill where a coin mixed in the maize damaged the machine.

On March 24, 2026, Kevin underwent successful cataract surgery at Amolatar Health Centre IV during an outreach by Lira Regional Referral Hospital and Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology. Immediately after, she joyfully saw her family for the first time in years.

Her husband previously managed cooking, cleaning, bathing the children, and farming alone. Now, they share responsibilities equally. Clinical officer Junior Isaac Ekwan noted Kevin’s rapid recovery, with her vision improving to read lines five and six on the acuity chart.

Cataracts, a leading cause of preventable blindness in the Lango sub-region, cloud the eye’s lens and impair daily life. Ongoing outreaches aim to clear backlogs and promote early treatment, with Kevin set for a final three-month review.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)