Conche Jengo McGarr

President

Conche Jengo McGarr is the Founder and President of Bega Kwa Bega. In 1998, she founded Bega Kwa Bega to support overwhelmed and impoverished grandmothers taking on the new task of caring for children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Under her leadership, BKB has always put children first in its programming, forming trusted partnerships with vulnerable families to help their children survive and thrive. She continues to guide the organization’s growth, overseeing program design, management, and funding of Bega Kwa Bega's evolving and interconnected community outreach programs across 631 villages in rural Uganda. A US national with deep roots in Uganda, Conche is a UK-trained teacher and experienced educator trainer with a strong track record of program design and management in both the US and East Africa. She holds a Master’s Degree in Adult Education from Virginia Tech School of Education. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, baking, and cooking for her family and friends.

Saranga Blaser

Board Member

Saranga Blaser is a global public health and gender equity expert with over 20 years of experience in program and grant management, operations research, and program design with partners across Africa and South Asia. Her work spans adolescent health, child marriage prevention, gender-based violence (GBV), women’s and girls’ leadership, male engagement, and maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), in partnership with organizations such as UNICEF, Gates Foundation, Amref Health Africa, Episcopal Relief & Development, Last Mile Health, and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). She holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University and served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda from 2001 to 2003. Saranga has served on the board of Bega Kwa Bega since 2005. She is deeply committed to community-led engagement and advancing opportunities that help women and girls achieve their aspirations.

Georgina Bukenya

Board Member

Georgina Bukenya is an Associate Data Protection Officer with over 10 years of experience spanning tech and international development. She specializes in privacy and data protection, AI governance, human rights, and trust & safety, helping product teams launch features that comply with global regulations. Earlier in her career, Georgina built cross-sector partnerships and implemented community development and technology programs across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Rooted in her East African heritage, Georgina is passionate about ensuring underserved communities are represented in the digital revolution. 

Ursula Foster

Board Member

Ursula Foster has supported Bega Kwa Bega since its earliest years, drawing on firsthand experience with the organization's programs through multiple working visits to Uganda. A retired New York City public school educator with over four decades in the classroom, she brings a career-long commitment to child development and community education. Ursula served in the Peace Corps in Uganda from 2001 to 2003, an experience that deepened her long-term investment in the region and in BKB's mission. She is a certified Master Gardener and an active member of Denver Urban Gardens (DUG), with hands-on experience in beekeeping and small-scale poultry keeping. What Ursula values most about BKB is its deep commitment to listening and responding to the people it serves.

Anne-France Fricker

Board Member

Anne-France Fricker is a pediatrician from Switzerland with clinical experience in the United States, where she worked as an ultrasound technician caring for premature infants, children, pregnant women, and cancer patients. Her medical background and focus on child health and development led her to Bega Kwa Bega, whose mission—helping children grow into healthy, responsible, independent adults—closely aligned with her own professional values. Since joining BKB, Anne-France has visited its programs in Uganda and continues to be inspired by the warmth and resilience of the Ugandan people.

Julian B. Kiganda

Board Member

Julian B. Kiganda is Founder of Soul Therapy Media, bringing more than 20 years of experience in branding, communications, and creative leadership. She has worked with organizations including the African Union and AIDS Healthcare Foundation to promote global initiatives. Her work today focuses on mental health and wellness — helping organizations create healthier ways to work and lead. Her board leadership includes Designers Without Borders and Brand Africa, and she was invited as a U.S. delegate to Senegal’s Festival of Black Arts and Culture. Julian brings a global perspective and deep commitment to community to her role as a board member of Bega Kwa Bega Uganda.

Kelley Laird

Board Member

Kelley brings 19 years of experience managing complex health programs across low- and middle-income countries, with expertise spanning end-to-end project lifecycle management, government grant and contract administration, and cross-functional team leadership on portfolios ranging from $250K to $15M. She currently serves as Director of Global Operations at ThinkWell. Previously at Abt Global, Kelley led ten health system activities across multiple countries and helped secure over $450M in competitive funding for global health initiatives, translating technical strategies into operational results in challenging environments.