Uganda: Baryamujura Turns Fate into Success

Angela Nampewo

She was widowed in her 20s and left with four children to look after. She had to survive and do well at it

From the way she wears her clothes to the way she speaks, Maria Baryamujura radiates confidence and a certain boldness born of the knowledge that she can bend the world to her will. Indeed, she has moved small mountains in her time.

The daughter of the late Reverend and Mrs. Kamujanduzi was widowed in her 20s and left with four children to look after, Maria's part in life was cut out for her right from start. She had no choice but to survive and do well at it.

"Next month it will be 30 years since I was widowed," says Baryamujura whose husband, the late Amos Baryamujura was murdered during the Idi Amin regime.

Although it wasn't easy to balance being a breadwinner with raising children, Baryamujura went into business right after her husband's death.

"It was hard. These days, it's easier because there are examples, support groups. Then, people didn't know how to help us," she says.

Fortunately, she was not as clueless as other young women in her position at that time. "I thank God that young as I was, my husband had involved me in his business," she says.

Since then, Baryamujura, who holds a diploma in Environmental Science, numerous certificates in tourism, has been a farmer and a businesswoman, operating in various areas. She has done boutiques and hair salons but she has also done a bit of farming.

"I had a dairy farm with over 200 cows. I've always had an interest in tourism and travel. In the 80s, I trained in tour operations. I did rural tourism with a focus on poverty alleviation. Since 1997, I've been promoting community tourism inclusive of people and their cultures," she says.

Baryamujura runs COBATI (Community Based Tourism Initiative). With COBATI, Maria and her team have developed a programme called Homestead Tourism.

"We're registered as an NGO. We've been working with communities around national parks for example a village called Buhoma near Bwindi Gorilla National Park is practising community tourism. We're promoting farming homesteads. We're also looking at this programme to empower people to keep clean homes," she adds.

Before she went into promoting community tourism, Baryamujura worked as the Country Representative for Royal Swazi Airlines between 1994 and 1996. In fact it was through her work and travel with the airline that she came up with the idea to promote community tourism. She had seen how the Swazi people used their culture to earn an income from tourism.

"During my journey of life, I've seen hardships experienced by rural people. I found the kind of tourism that takes in everybody. In rural areas, that's where attractions are found. I have an interest to make rural areas better. Once a month, I go on Radio West and tell people to use community tourism to improve their lives," she says.

According to Baryamujura, her work with the rural communities is not about personal profit. After over 20 years in tourism, she would like to make a difference in people's lives and do something for which she will be remembered.

"Working in community tourism is not easy. There's no quick money. It's long term," she says. For her work in tourism, Baryamujura is one of three East African nominees for an award from the global body of leading Social Entrepreneurs, ASHOKA. In 200, she was a finalist in a Development Marketplace 2000. She got a certificate from the President of the World Bank.

Baryamujura has a number of achievements under her belt, not least of all, raising four children, providing them with a home and putting them through school.

Her first son is married. He's into banking and works for the American Embassy while one of her daughters works for Scotia Bank in Toronto and the other has just completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology. Her second son works with Balton Uganda.

"I found that I had these four children. It's not so easy bringing up children as a single mother. It's not something extraordinary but I thank God that I have been able to do it. You never have enough money. It's so important to provide a stable home. It's a challenge on you.

You have to be a role model. There's a lot of sacrifice. Sometimes you put your life on hold but it pays because when I look back, I ask myself, "now what can't I do? I've done it all. There's nothing I can't do," says Baryamujura, who spends part of her time mentoring widows. Her philosophy in life is that it doesn't matter how many times you fall, it's how you pick yourself up.

She challenges women to be knowledgeable, educated and economically independent so that they aren't at the mercy of others.

"Men should empower their wives. At the end of the day, their children are the beneficiaries," she adds. Baryamujura is also director of Eden International School, a secondary school in Mbarara.

"We decided to put this school in Mbarara. When you come to our school, all things are there. It is a school to be enjoyed. We have decided that even outside Kampala you can go to a good school. Wherever you are, you can make a difference. That's what we are doing in COBATI," she says.

In her spare time, the tour operator loves to read autobiographies and watching documentaries. She loves to travel and she loves herself, something that shows in her choice of clothes. "I like myself," she replies to compliments on her dress.

"I have plans. I'm in the process of putting up a community-training centre in Mbarara where I can give rural people practical skills. I have plans of putting up a community museum. I believe people's history should be documented. Soon I might even go into hotels," says Baryamujura, who also intends to go back to school and pursue a degree in Community and Rural Development.