Fort Portal

Fort portal is branded as a tourism city of Uganda which attracts both local and international tourists since It has a good conducive unique weather, 52 crater lakes which spread around Kabarole and Bunyangabu districts. Fort portal is 290 kilometers from Kampala the capital city of Uganda and is found in the Western part of Uganda, a major regional town for Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, Kyegwegwa and Kasese districts situated at an elevation of about 5000ft or 1500 meters and overlooks the mountain Rwenzori ranges and mountain Mufumbiro. Fort portal is a seat for both Kabarole district and the home town of the Omukama Oyo Inyimba and his beautiful palace the Tooro kingdom, therefore the city is densely populated by the Batooro people who speak the Rutooro language who have a rich tradition and cultural customs, indigenous hand crafts and patriotism.

Fort portal was founded in 1893 and was named after Gerald Portal the British consul of Zanzibar and the fort was constructed in the late 1800s as a way of protecting the Tooro kingdom from King Kabalega of the Bunyoro kingdom an his persistent guerilla raids. On first July Fort portal was operationalised by the government of Uganda into a city and other cities like Masaka city,  Jinja city, Gulu city and others and has a weather that is always cool with an average of 18degrees Celsius at most.

Attractions In Fort Portal.

Fort portal is endowed with a variety of attractions that lure tourists to visit the city and will leave you thrilled with the amazing experience. There are attractions like the Tooro kingdom currently led by the Omukama Oyo Inyimba Igulu and a Bantu kingdom located within the border of Uganda, Hima cement factory, Rwenzori mountain ranges which lie at the border of Kasese district and Bunyangabu. Amabere ga’Nyinamwiru being the top and unique tourist attraction located 10km away from the town in Kabarole near Nyakasura school and a strong cultural heritage amongst the Batooro people. Fort portal has more then 10 small hills which help tourists with a spectacular view of Mountain Rwenzori which is the highest mountain in Uganda therefore it is  world’s class hiking and mountaineering destination, Magherita being Its peak.

River Mpanga is among the attractions found in Fort portal, Valleys in Fort portal especially those in Kabarole have many flowing Rivers and streams. The crater lakes which were formed as a result of volcanicity. Other rivers found in the area are River Kayagi, River Kaija, River Kahomba, River Sugohi, River Muzizi, River Kizikibi, River Kakoko, River Kabago, River Rwimi, River Kakule, River Kaija. There is national parks found within like Semliki National park, Lake Nkuraba nature reserve, Kibaale National park, Bigodi wetlands sanctuary, Kihingami wetlands.

Fort portal is rich in the crater lakes such as lake Nkuraba, Lake Nyinambuga, Lake Nyabikere, Lake Nyamugasa, Lake Ntambi, Lake Mubiro, Lake Lyantonde, Lake Nyaswiga, Lake Kasenda among  others.

Fort portal has historical sites and building which have recently been launched on the fort portal map with the aim of keeping the city’s history and these include Kabarole hospital which was built in 1903 by the Church Missionary Society on Fort Portal Kasese road, the magnificent Karuzika palace, Tooro Kingdom palace built in 1960s for the Omukama  Kasagama’s son, Muchwa building, Tooro administrative building, Royal tombs located in Karambi.

Accommodation facilities in Fort portal.

Fort portal has registered many infrastructural developments due to the strategic location of the tourist sites which have helped to boast tourism and offer accommodation facilities to the tourists and also offering job opportunities to the people thus leading to the development and growth. Here are some of the places you can stay in while on the visit in Fort portal; Kyaninga lodge in Kabarole which is about 8kms North of Fort portal, Nyinabulitwa which has a city resort and safari camp and is about 20km on Fort portal, Nyinambuga which hosts Nalali lodge and Kasenda beach, Nyaika mountain of the moon hotel limited, Rujuna hill top guest house, Tooro resort, Ataco country resort, Rwenzori travellers inn, Hotel cornerstone, Sunrise international Apartments. There are also campsites where one can spend a night in the treehouse.

At Tooro Botanical gardens in Fort portal there is the eucalyptus trees which are so old as 120years planted by queen Elizabeth. During her visit 40 eucalyptus trees were planted in commemoration of the Duke and Duchess visit in the forest reserve.

Best time to visit fort portal city.

You can visit Fort portal any time of the year but I would recommend you to visit during the dry season which offers a dry days with favorable conditions. And these are in the months of December, January, February, June, July, August and September.

For more information and bookings in the fort portal city contact the journeys Uganda we shall serve you and you will have the best experience.