Fort Portal City Hub
Explore this beautiful Ugandan Town (Image by Steve Williams- Kyaninga Lodge)
Welcome To The Eye Magazine Directory
- All Locations :
Welcome To The Eye Magazine Directory
Explore this beautiful Ugandan Town (Image by Steve Williams- Kyaninga Lodge)
Fort Portal is one of Uganda’s most picturesque towns. Surrounded by green hills, dozens of lakes, and the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains, the town is a gateway to adventure. If you prefer town life, Fort portal has it all too: the town is a popular weekend away for Kampalans who want to party.
Fort Portal is the traditional seat of the Toro Kingdom, one of Uganda’s oldest kingdoms. The Fort Portal region is famous for its tea, due to its cool climate: the bright green tea plantations are a feature of Toro’s hilly landscape.
Fort Portal is perfectly positioned for exploring western Uganda: for savannah game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park; primates of Kibale Forest; an exploration of the many crater lakes; walks to the waterfalls and the forested foothills of the Rwenzori’s, or up into its more challenging peaks. Away from the crowds, Semliki Wildlife Reserve and Semliki National Park promise a wilderness experience, hot springs and birdlife you can see nowhere else in Uganda.
Omukama Kaboyo was the first king of Toro. He broke away from the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom in the early 19th century to establish the independent Toro Kingdom, which has its cultural heart in Fort Portal. Numerous traditional ceremonies and rituals are still practiced today. The annual coronation anniversary of the Toro king, known as "Empango," is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Fort Portal. The region around Fort Portal is rich in local folklore. Fort Portal is the only town in Uganda with an English name. It was named after Sir Gerald Portal, the British Consul General of Zanzibar, who came to Uganda in the 1890s to formalize British protectorate status over the country. The town serves as the administrative center of Kabarole District. Before the arrival of the British, the area around Fort Portal was governed by local chiefs under the Toro Kingdom.
The town has plenty of markets: Mpanga and Kabundaire, and others along the main road. Andrew’s Supermarket stocks a wide range of local and imported food and drinks. A few doors down is Maria’s, a well-priced local handicrafts and souvenir shop.
Fort Portal is 311 km by road from Kampala. It’s a 4 - 6 hours’ drive to Fort Portal. Drive yourself, hire a driver or take the bus. Midway between Kampala and Fort Portal is Mubende, the traditional comfort break and muchomo (roasted meat) stop. En route, a growing number of fuel stations sell coffee and snacks. For more information on Fort Portal, please refer to the pages on Fort Portal in The Eye Magazine.
Rukirabasaija Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, commonly known as King Oyo, is the reigning Omukama of Tooro
Toro Palace: Built in the 1960s, you can’t miss this round palace, guarded by lion statues – the kingdom’s emblem – on a hill overlooking Fort Portal. The palace was restored by the Libyan government after the 1960s destruction when President Obote’s government abolished the traditional kingdoms.
Karambi Tombs: 5 km out of town on the Kasese Road, the burial grounds of Omukama Kasagama and Rukidi III are an important cultural and historical site.
The Amabere Caves are known for their spiritual significance in local folklore. Here you can learn about the “Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru” (Breasts of Nyina Mwiru).
Statue of Sir Gerald Portal: situated on the town’s main road, the statue commemorates the British Consul General who played a role in establishing the British protectorate over Uganda.
Congratulation!