Fort Portal City

Fort Portal City: Named for Sir Gerald Herbert Portal, this magnificent city is located in Kabarole District in western Uganda. In 1892, British administrator Sit Gerald Portal was appointed British Special Commissioner to East Africa. He was sent to Uganda to determine whether the region was worth establishing as a British Protectorate as a replacement for the Imperial British East Africa Company, which was no longer operating. The name Fort Portal comes from the fact that the fort was later built in the late 1800s to defend the Tooro Kingdom from King Kabalega of Bunyoro and his frequent guerilla attacks.

His statue now stands on the town’s main thoroughfare. The village is also close to the Semliki Valley and a number of crater lakes. Each of these plays a significant role in Fort Portal culture. A “Tourism city of Uganda,” Fort Portal, also known as Kabarole, is situated in the country’s western region. It serves as the seat of the Toro Kingdom and Kabarole District.

Fort Portal is situated on an all-tarmac two-lane highway about 296 kilometers (184 miles) west of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. Fort Portal is located at 0°39’16.0 N, 30°16’28.0 E (Latitude: 0.654444; Longitude: 30.274444).[5] The average elevation of Fort Portal is 1,523 meters (4,997 feet) above sea level. As of 2020, Fort Portal City’s population was estimated by UBOS to be 60,800, growing at an average annual rate of 2.12% (2014-2020). Because of its amazing position and natural surroundings, the population has been steadily growing. After standing at 41,000 in the 2002 national census, the population was estimated to be 54,275 in August 2014.

Cotton, peanuts (groundnuts), sesame, corn (maize), coffee, tobacco, castor oil seeds, tea, tropical fruits, and vegetables are all processed and sold there. East of the town is where most of the tea estates are located. Products that are processed include tea, coffee, vegetable oils, leather, fruit, dairy, meat, cotton, grain, and tobacco. Metal items, paper, soap, textiles, furniture, drinks, and confections are examples of industrial products.

Tourism is the main industry in Fort Portal City, with the main draws being gorilla tracking, hot springs, and crater lakes. Because of its natural beauty, Fort Portal has established itself as Uganda‘s top tourist destination. The city has earned its reputation because to the abundance of tourist attractions.

The Batooro are the main ethnic group that calls Fort Portal City home. The Batooro are known for their rich cultural traditions, traditional handicrafts, and sense of patriotism. The Batooro place a high value on culture, which is ingrained in each kid. Youngsters are taught to love and be proud of their tribe, as well as to respect and revere elders. The Batooro people’s custom of giving pet names—names of affection—known as “Empaako”—is another fascinating aspect of their culture. Each mutooro child is given one of the ten “empaako” names in addition to the name that the rest of the world will know them by. Abbala, Abbooki, Abwooli, Acaali, Adyeeri, Akiiki, Amooti, Apuuli, Araali, Ateenyi, and Atwooki are the names of the Empaako.

The Omukama (king) alone is entitled to the twelfth one, Okaali. Because it is not used to greet the Omukama on a daily basis, Okaali is extremely precious. It is employed when the Omukama is elevated to the status of our gods by our tradition.

We refer to our ruler as Okaali when we “worship” him. The only mutooro with two empaako names is the Omukama. He takes the empaako Amooti after becoming the Omukama, regardless of what his previous empaako was. This is the one we use every day to welcome him. We welcome him as Okaali during specific, customary ceremonies and rituals.

Fort Portal City is also home to several Bakiga. They relocated to Fort Portal from southwest Uganda.