FORT PORTAL CITY.
Fort portal city : Being the only English named city in Uganda, Fort Portal is a designated “Tourism city of Uganda”, located in the Western Region of the country. It is the city of both Kbarole District and Toro Kingdom in which it is located. Fort Portal is located about 181 kilometers, North West of Mbarara, the largest city in the Western Region of Uganda. This is approximately 296 kilometer by road, west of Kampala Uganda’s capital and largest city.
TOURISM ATTRACTIONS.
Tooro Kingdom Palace Tour.
The Tooro Kingdom Palace was founded in 1830 when the defiant Prince of Bunyoro dissociated with the powerful kingdom to form the one of his own. However, he later relinked with the parent kingdom in 1876, but the union broke up again when Tooro finally became independent in the same year. The kingdom alongside other three dynasties in the current recent day Uganda was abolished during the reign President Milton Obote. The kingdom was later revived in 1993.
It was during Amin’s regime that the palace building was built and in 1963 was destroyed. However, the former Libya leader Muammar Gadhafi gave funds for its renovation in 2001. King Oyo Nyima Kabamba Iguru who took over power at the age of 3 years lives in the palace. He is now 29 years old. The Tooro palace which the locals refer to as ‘Ekikali Karuzika’ is situated on hill giving a clear and full rotation view of Fort Portal town. Tourists are allowed to get close to the structure but cannot enter the historic building.
Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves.
These ancient caves have become a popular tourist destination that receives a countless number of visitors annually. Tooro folklore alleges that the place got its name after King Bukuku of Tooro chopped off his daughter’s breasts and threw them in the cave crazy, right? Apparently, the king feared the prophecy saying that Ndahura (a prophecy character and the king’s supposed successor) would kill him and later sire a son with the king’s daughter. King Bukuku’s daughter was called Nyina Mwiru and the breast in Tooro dialect is referred to as ‘Amabere’ hence the name of the cave that loosely translates as ‘The breasts of Nyina Mwiru.’
According to the locals, the prophecy was fulfilled when Ndahura killed the king before dethroning him. Nevertheless, Nyina Mwiru was nowhere to give the new king a son and the locals call the whitish water that drips from the cave ‘breast milk’.
Crater Lakes
A total of 86 crater lakes can be found in the western part of Uganda! Nearly 10,000 years ago, most of these lakes emerged from volcanic eruptions, and most have gone into extinction leaving only a few that offers breathtaking views. In Nyakasura Village, there are three crater lakes which include Lake Saka, Lake Kyaninga. The crater lakes are concentrated in Albertine Rift Valley and offer a clear view of Africa’s largest volcanic ranges. Many tourists choose to move about 30 km to the south of Fort Portal town in Kasenda Ndali zone which hosts many crater lakes. Other regions with such lakes within western Uganda area are Bunyaruguru and Katwe-Kikorongo. In your quest to visit crater lakes in the region, you’ll pass through large tea plantations where you’ll get the opportunity to interact with the locals.
Amazing tea plantations.
The presence of tea plantations in Fort Portal town can give you a good idea about the climatic patterns in the area, thus helping you to know the type of attire to carry along with you. Unlike other countries where tourist sites are located in unproductive lands, western Uganda balances both agriculture and heritage really well.
The tea estates are quite expansive and can take about five hours if you decide to walk but a motorcycle ride can add to your adventure. The area possesses fertile soil that equally supports the growth of coffee. Bananas also perform well. During your hiking, you’ll have to walk through tea estate and learn the art of cultivation before get to some two crater lakes that are nearby. On your way to the popular Kibale National Park, you’ll walk through tea estates before reaching the luxurious Primate Lodge Kibale.
Good Weather
Oooh cannot talk about food in Uganda without mentioning a starchy variety of banana popularly known as matooke. Most parts of Uganda including Fort Portal town have bananas. The fruit is harvested green, carefully peeled and then cooked and often mashed or pounded into a meal. Since the area has perfect climate, you’ll expect steady a food supply for both the locals and hotels hosting guests. Besides, the Tooro Botanical Gardens has been organizing seminars involving all the stakeholders on how they to improve food security.
Other dominant meals that the locals eat include; potatoes, Ugali (a type of ‘hard’ cornmeal porridge), rice, and beans. Hotels offer local meals and exotic cuisines. The bars also offer great wines and beers at affordable prices. Fruits like avocados, ripe bananas, mangos and several others complete the diet. The guide will warn you never to drink any water from natural sources because of the salty nature of the type of water.
Some notable hotels and bars that serve amazing dishes include Amaani Rwenzori, EcoBurito, Garden Restaurant and Duchess. The hotels are situated within touring routes hence grant a spectacular view of breathtaking sceneries.
Hiking the Rwenzori Mountains.
Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru caves’ proximity to the Rwenzori Mountains makes it easy for tourists to have multiple activities to undertake. The mountains are ideal for hiking. The guides will probably advise you to have good boots that will not let you slide in the slippery spots. Other attire that you need for a successful safari includes a long sleeved top, a pair of long trousers and a hat. Do not forget to carry a bottle of water and some snacks. This type of clothing is recommended to prevent things such as insect bites.
Shopping Centers.
Asatex United Supermarket, Andrew And Brothers Supermarket, Aswt Low Price Supermarket, Kwik Saver Supermarket/ Fuelex Petrol Station and Mpanga Market is located in fort portal town and the biggest shopping centre in fort portal and kabarole as a whole with the largest population of vendors who sell a variety of products for example agricultural products both improved and raw and industrial manufactured goods.
Economy
Fort Portal town located in western Uganda. Fort Portal is situated at an elevation of about 5,000 feet 1,500 meters and it is linked by road with Rubona, Kyenjojo, and Kyegegwa. It is an important market and processing centre for cotton, peanuts (groundnuts), sesame, corn (maize), coffee, tobacco, castor oil seeds, tea, tropical fruits, and vegetables. A number of tea estates are concentrated east of the town. Tea, coffee, vegetable oils, leather, fruit, dairy products, meat, cotton, grain, and tobacco are processed. Industrial products include beverages, textiles, furniture, paper, soap, confectionery, shoes, and metal goods. Fort Portal provides a base for mountaineering in the Ruwenzori Range and has the palace of the Omukama (King) of Tooro. The Bwamba Pass, the Hot Springs of Bundibugyo, and the Forest are nearby points of interest all this earns the country revenue and the city as a whole.
Transport Means.
Public transport means in Uganda include boda boda which are motor cycles used for short distance, taxi buses which carry a big number of people where these company buses include link buses which park and located at Kyebambe fort portal, then Kalita There are also special hires closely to private cars, you agree on the price before departure and they are knowledgeable about the routes and short cuts in case of traffic jam in the city.
Food and Beverages.
Main dishes are usually centered on a sauce or stew of groundnuts, beans or meat. The starch traditionally comes from Posho Maize meal or Matooke steamed and mashed green banana in the South, or millet bread Ugali like dish made from millet flour in the North and East. Posho is cooked up into porridge for breakfast.
For main meals, white maize flour is added to the saucepan and stirred into the Posho until the consistency is firm. It is then turned out onto a serving plate and cut into individual slices (or served onto individual plates in the kitchen). Cassava, yam and African sweet potato are also eaten the more affluent include white (often called “Irish”) potato and rice in their diets. Soya beans were promoted as a healthy food staple in the 1970s and this is also used, especially for breakfast. Chapatti similar to Asian flatbreads are also part of Ugandan cuisine.
Bushera is made and consumed in western Uganda, where sorghum, a cereal grain, is grown. But in recent years, bushera has gained popularity among Kampala residents.
Currency.
Uganda uses the Ugandan shilling as means of exchange and the monetary policy is controlled by the bank of Uganda.
Climate.
Fort portal being located in the western part of the country the climate is cooler generally compared to other regions in the country.
Religion.
Uganda has many religions and people believing in different religion. The majority religion in fort portal is the Roman Catholics, Anglicans and the Muslims then the Born Agains.
