Community Based Tourism Initiatives – COBATI is a not for profit tourism NGO promoting community development, environmental conservation and sustainable tourism in Uganda. COBATI founder Maria Baryamujura, was concerned about the complete lack of participation of local people in their natural and cultural resources, and the alarming levels of poverty in rural households. Maria identified a glaring
gap between mainstream tourism, and the abundant yet untapped community-based resources. She therefore decided to nurture this COBATI concept as a means to develop and utilize community tourism as a social engine for income generation, empowerment and community development. In May 2000, this noble concept received recognition from the World Bank as a focus area for poverty alleviation and rural transformation. Approach;
Initially the COBATI concept was not easily understood or appreciated by the Government of Uganda, the tourism sector players and the donor community. Tourism planners then did not envisage combining tourism with the traditions and cultures of indigenous peoples or consider rural communities as viable tourism destinations. To the donors our story lacked the usual emotional appeal of causes like saving children, protecting refugees, healing diseases... tourism is often related to leisure and profit! We badly needed a strategy to change the narrative. Strategy;
Since 2005, COBATI has promoted the benefits of community tourism to target communities through mentoring, skills training, exposure of local products and services. To the Government, donors and tourism players through electronic, print and social media including (www.cobatiuganda.org, Facebook@cobatiuganda, Instagram cobati_uganda). COBATI’s goal is to expand the network of strategic allies whose activities can be synchronized with ours for improved service delivery. Services offered;
Community Training – 70% of COBATI’s work is training. Training is focused at mindset shift and community empowerment. Communities are trained in the sustainable use of natural resources and generation of income through ecotourism, handcrafts and improving household environments to which rural homesteads can attract and host responsible travelers to interact with nature and culture. In 2015, the COBATI Community Training Center was established in Mbarara Municipality, to mentor, train and empower local communities and individuals to acquire life skills according to their interest to become entrepreneurs through the framework of small-scale enterprises. Research;
COBATI conducts research related to sustainable tourism and community development. Advocacy;
COBATI uses advocacy as a tool in implementing its activities. Advocacy tools used include networking with stakeholders, information dissemination and publications. Consultancy;
COBATI offers consultancy services to Government and Development Agencies, Local and International NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, Communities and Individuals on sustainable tourism as a tool for income generation in rural communities. Since 2000, COBATI in partnership and collaboration with various local and international organizations listed below, has through life skills training, built the capacity of women and youth some with no formal education, mentored individuals and community groups in the protection of the environment, preservation of cultural heritage, entrepreneurship and personal development. Organizations & Institutions include;
• SNV- Netherlands Development Organization
• The Chimpanzee Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Trust
• Darwin Initiative
• Mgahinga Trust
• AWF/IGCP- Africa Wildlife Foundation/International Gorilla Conservation Program
• Nkuringo Conservation &Development Foundation
• Uganda Tourism Board
• Mbarara Economic Council
• Lake View Resort Hotel
• Mbarara Preparatory School
• Mbarara Municipal School
• Eden International School
• Kibingo Community Tourism Association
• Makerere University Business School/Faculty of Hospitality Management.
• Bombo Community Tourism Association.
• The Uganda Nubian Consultative Forum.
• Nshenyi Cultural Village
• UNDP/Private Sector Development Program 2000. Achievements/Awards include;
22 years of community tourism advocacy, focused on fostering, delivering and sustaining a network of job-creating community based enterprises across Uganda.
In 2017 on World Tourism Day, COBATI was recognized as an organization tackling rural communities’ problems in different spheres through social projects.
In 2016, COBATI was selected as a host organization for YALI Fellows in tourism entrepreneurship (YALI- Young African Leaders Initiative was established by President Obama to invest in the next generation of African leaders.
In 2015, COBATI hosted 100 school children to the 2015 Global Handwashing Day Event, whose theme was “Raise a hand for hygiene”.
In 2013, COBATI was profiled in PAKASA as a unique tourism model for community empowerment. PAKASA is an initiative of Vision Group aimed at inspiring mindset change among Ugandans.
In 2011, COBATI in partnership with the MTN Uganda Foundation developed Uganda’s first community tourism village in the Nubian community in Bombo.
In 2009, COBATI won the National Geographic/Ashoka Geotourism Urban Adventure Prize.
In 2008, COBATI was nominated for the Commonwealth Business Council Awards in the “Leader in Social Innovation” category.
In 2006, the Ashoka Fellowship, a Global association of leading social entrepreneurs, recognized COBATI as a model for social entrepreneurship in Uganda.
In 2000, COBATI was a finalist in the World Bank poverty alleviation competition- the Development Marketplace 2000.
