About Us

Our Team

The BIG FIX Uganda team is comprised of 32 permanent staff members (15 women and 17 men) working in 18 full time and 14 parttime posts. Fifteen of our staff members are graduates of The Comfort Dog Project.

Our Vision
To be the leading organization in Uganda in creating better health and welfare for animals and people and greater respect and kindness for all living beings.

Our Mission
To alleviate the suffering of animals, to improve the health and welfare of people and animals, and to promote human-animal bonds.

The BIG FIX Uganda is a project of The BIG FIX, an IRC 501(c)(3) tax exempt charity based in the United States of America. Our EIN is 30-0019352.
The BIG FIX Uganda is registered in Uganda as an International NGO (Non-Governmental Organization). Our registration number is 8229. See our Work Permit. We work in Gulu City and the districts of Gulu, Oyam, Amuru, Pader, and Nwoya.
The day-to-day operations are managed by a leadership team including:
- Odoch Honest, Executive Administrator
- Dr. Godra Ayebazibwe, Lead Resident Veterinary Doctor
- Francis Okello Oloya, Manager, Comfort Dog Project and Education Program
- Ojok Samuel, Hospital Administrator
- Achan Laura, Manager, Animal Welfare Team
- Dr. Opiyo Lawrence, Hospital Improvement Project Lead
- Sarah Schmidt, President of the Executive Committee
Oversight of the management committee is provided by the Executive Committee led by Sarah Schmidt (President), and including Tracey Talentino (Vice-President), Andrea Kennedy (Treasurer), and Stacy Mendell (Secretary). The executive committee members serve on a volunteer basis.
The Board of Trustees are: Dr. Brenda Forsythe, Dr. Benard Agwai, Kathryn McDonald, Andrea Kennedy, and Sarah Schmidt.
The activities of The BIG FIX Uganda are under the ultimate supervision and leadership of The BIG FIX, the U.S. charity.
The BIG FIX is governed by a Board of Directors. The Directors are: Dr. Brenda Forsythe, President; Sarah Schmidt, Secretary/Treasurer; Kathryn Mohan McDonald, Meg Olmert, Philip Tedeschi, Dr. Antje Joslin, and Laura Austin.
The directors serve without compensation, cover all of their own expenses, and actively participate in fundraising and providing mentorship and other support for the programs in Uganda.
The Scientific Advisor for our Comfort Dog Project is Meg Daley Olmert, author of Made for Each Other: The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond, and Research Director for Warrior-Canine Connection.
The BIG FIX Uganda's veterinary doctors are mentored by Dr. Benard Agwai of Makerere University, who visits our team regularly.
Our doctors are also able to consult with and to meet monthly with a mentoring group in the United States including Dr. Brenda Forsythe, Dr. Antje Joslin, and Dr. Samantha Lawton.
The Comfort Dog Project's Community Psychologist and Social Worker are mentored by Philip Tedeschi and Stacy Mendel.
Our dog training team receives mentorship from Samantha Hines.
The BIG FIX Uganda works in partnership with the following local governments: Gulu City, Gulu District, Amuru District, Pader District, Oyam District, and Nwoya District.
Our other partners are: Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security (COVAB), The Underdog International, Global Alliance for Rabies Control, Project Animal Aid, Human-Animal Bond Research Institute, and United Against Rabies Forum.
Read some of our letters of recommendation and see video testimonials about our work by visiting Our Impact page.
The BIG FIX has been a multi-year recipient of the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, the charity evaluator, and has consistently maintained status as a Top Rated Nonprofit by Great Nonprofits.
In 2021, our Education Manager Francis Okello Oloya received the Education Champion Award from the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
The BIG FIX Uganda was shortlisted for the World Rabies Day Award in 2017 and was named the Awardee of the World Rabies Day Award in 2018 for Sub-Sahara Africa.
Impactful Ninja lists The BIG FIX Uganda as One of the 9 Best Charities Helping PTSD Sufferers and One of the Best Charities Impacting Africa.