UGANDA: FORMER CHILD SOLDIERS AND THEIR RESCUED DOGS ARE EPICCENTRE OF TRAUMA OF WAR HEALING OF LRA POST WAR CONFLICT

In the shadow of that brutal 20-years conflict between Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and Uganda People Defense Forces (UPDF), in Northern Uganda has left a remarkable scar and story of resilience unfolding through the unexpected companionship of rescued dogs from comfort Dogs.

GULU CITY-FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026.

By Okumu Livingstone Langol, Our Correspondent

Francis Okello Ayella (loving Dogs by neurotraumatic to team dogs to have a friend that now accepting them, enjoying friendship, living together, is psychosocial analysis 1984-2026). Is a deeply moving exploration of trauma, recovery and the power of connection discover by the Big Fix of Uganda, told the Blind Psychologist.

Our Correspondent questioned Francis Okello Ayella how he teamed Dogs to master the heart of trauma and become the healing aroma in the LRA post war conflict?

Francis Okello Ayella the blind Psychologist, narrative discourses was a moving testimony who appeared to address Northern Uganda Media Club in Gulu City on Friday, observed that just to let community in Gulu City `know that the Dogs is part of human being can react the five senses of the body languages. We are going to have film-demonstrating Dogs healing Animals, healing people transforming lives film at Elephante on Saturday 21, 2026 at 7:00PM.

“The Big Fix is using the show to the community of Uganda, they are using Dogs that can help us treat PTSD, and we have Dogs doing open command live.” Okello Ayella commented.

Added as psychologists we have moments reacting with Dogs being social animals, we know that Dogs loves us, they do not bark at you, they love us. In 2014 we collected Dogs, the Dogs on the streets of Gulu have been rescued. We have prepared them to learn and to accept each other.

We used the guardians who know how to help them (Gen makwo), it implies that the person left on the streets taking care of them to learn and work together.

“The guardian talks to them and listens to them (Dogs) in the same way the former LRA has been left to suffer living on the streets of Gulu, using Dogs by using neuro trauma to team Dogs to have friends that now accept them living together.

Francis Okello Ayella disclosed that the film is based on 3 former LRA abductees who have been living on the streets in Gulu with their Dogs, we started filming their history. In Australia everybody knows Dogs as for example you may be aware that in our culture people do not value Dogs when they want to insult you, in ming calo Gwok Cuk, literally you are stupid like the Dogs market.

“Dogs can give time to narrate your story, they cannot deny you or reject you. The comfort we give Dogs, we treated them, without Ticks, we sprayed them with the guardians to accept since 2014 we have teamed 105 Dogs

Richard Wainwright, the Director Big Fix who also addresses the press briefing at Northern Uganda Media Club, issued a press statement under the team, “The Comfort Dogs of Uganda.”

Here is the verbatim statement

The trauma of war never truly goes away. Former child soldiers of The Lord’s Resistance Army, the shock of abduction and unspeakable atrocities they witnessed left a lasting scarring impact. But in the shadow of that brutal20-years conflict in Northern Uganda, a remarkable story of resilience unfolds through the unexpected companionship rescued Dogs

The Comfort Dogs of Uganda follows the lives of Lucy, Francis and Jennifer as they struggle with social stigma and severe PTSD. Alongside them are Sadik. Tommy and Ogen: rescued dogs from the comfort Dog Project (CDP), who themselves overcame abandonment and mistreatment.

A deeply moving exploration of trauma, recovery and the power of connection. The comfort Dogs of Uganda is a visual testament to the resilience of the human spirits and the extraordinary role Dogs can play in helping us find our way back to life.

The comfort Dog Project and the Big Fix Uganda

The Comfort Dog Project was created as part of The Big Fix Uganda, a non-profit that operates the only veterinary hospital in Northern Uganda, home to almost 10 million people.

In 2014, The Big Fix Uganda launched the Comfort Dog Project to create lifesaving bonds between war survivors and abandoned village dogs.

The 20-week Program, based on clinically proven canine-assisted trauma therapy models, teaches the teams how to communicate and care for each other. Guardians also receive psychological trauma counselling, with their dogs at their sides. Over 120 war survivors and their dogs have had their hearts and minds transformed by this life changing program.

This significant reduction in their PTSD symptoms and improvement in their sense of wellbeing hearts, is testimony to the healing power of the human-dog bond

In regions where dogs were once feared and neglected, the program is changing like-and changing hearts.

Richard in his media briefing highlighted the challenges the Big Fix faces inter-Lia poisoning dogs and argued that some of the guardians are cheap in mind. However, we are sensitized to the community.

“Those who do criminal activities can be sentenced to 7 years in prison.”