26/06/2022
About Fort Portal
Fort Portal was founded in 1893 and is named after Sir Gerald Portal, a British colonial official. His statue graces the entrance into the town on Kyebambe Road.
Fort Portal hosts most regional offices in the western region and the headquarters of Tooro Kingdom.
Fort Portal is 290 kms from Kampala and a major regional town for Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kasese, Bundibugyo, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo and Ntoroko districts. Fort Portal City lies at the foot of Rwenzori Mountain, 5,050 feet above sea level. It is dotted with more than 10 small hills where one gets a lovely view of Rwenzori Mountain.
The area has fertile volcanic soils that support the growing of crops. Other activities carried out in the city include tree planting, dairy farming, mining pozzolana (main component for cement at Hima factory in Kasese).
The people in town love their town and want to keep it clean. The natives here are so friendly and hospitable.
There is a town beautification programme every year, where the urban authority paints the streets, roundabouts and plants trees within the district.
Fort Portal is also the home town of Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru and his palace is a tourist site. The magnificent circular palace is perched on the highest hill in town called Kabarole hill.
Accomodation facilities
Nyaika, Mountains of the Moon Hotel (2000) Ltd, Rujuna Hilltop Guesthouse, Palace Motel, Rwenzori Travelers Inn, Tooro Resort, Ataco Country Resort, Kluge’s Farm Hotel and campsite, Sunrise International Apartments, Raja Excelsior, DAJ Guest house, Lesuiex Centre, Cornerstone Hotel, Stranford, New Fort View, Fort Breeze , Lake Kyaninga Lodge, Fort Motel, Hilton and Jerusalem Paradise are some of the hotels that tourists flock while in Fort Portal.
There are campsites where one can spend a night in a treehouse experiencing the sounds of monkeys, chimpanzees, forest elephant, bush pig, giant forest hog and much more.
