Fort Portal

City in Tooro, Western Uganda

Place in Western Region, Uganda

Fort Portal

Kabarole

Fort Portal

Location in Uganda

Coordinates: 00°39′16″N 30°16′28″E﻿ / ﻿0.65444°N 30.27444°E﻿ / 0.65444; 30.27444
Country|  Uganda
Region| Western Region
Sub-region| Tooro sub-region
District| Kabarole District
Government

• Mayor| Asaba Ruyonga
Elevation

| 4,997 ft (1,523 m)
Population

(2024 Census)

• Total

| 137,549[1]
Mpanga market, Fort Portal

Fort Portal formerly Kabarole (lit. 'let them see')[2] is a city located in the Western Region of Uganda. It is the seat of both Kabarole District and historically of the Tooro Kingdom.[3][4]

## Etymology

[edit]

Fort Portal was named after British diplomat Sir Gerald Portal, as it was where his base was.

## Location

[edit]

Fort Portal in Kabarole District is located approximately 296 kilometres (184 mi) by road, west of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city, on an all-tarmac two-lane highway.[5] The geographical coordinates of Fort Portal City are 0°39'16.0"N, 30°16'28.0"E (Latitude: 0.654444; Longitude: 30.274444).[6] Fort Portal is situated at an average elevation of 1,523 metres (4,997 ft) above sea level.[7]

## City status

[edit]

Lion statue in Fort Portal town

On 1 July 2020, Fort Portal was elevated from municipality to a "tourism city" status.[8] In 2019, in preparation for the award of city status, Ford Portal annexed several surrounding neighborhoods and sub-counties, including Karago, Ibaale Parish, Burungu Parish, Karambi sub-county, Bukuku sub-county, and parts of Busoro sub-county.[9][10]

## Population

[edit]

According to the 2002 national census, the population of Fort Portal was about 41,000. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 46,300. In 2011, UBOS estimated the population at 47,100.[11] In August 2014, the national population census put the population at 54,275.[12] In 2020 UBOS estimated the mid-year population of the city as 60,800. The population agency calculated that the population of the city grew at an average rate of 2.12 percent annually between 2014 and 2020.[1]

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±%

|
|

2002| 41,000| —
2010| 46,300| +12.9%
2011| 47,100| +1.7%
2014| 54,275| +15.2%
2020| 60,800| +12.0%
source:[1][11][12]

## Healthcare

[edit]

Fort Portal is home to three hospitals. Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, a 300-bed public hospital administered by the Uganda Ministry of Health is the largest.[13] The next-largest is Holy Family Virika Hospital, a private hospital with a bed capacity of 155, owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal.[14] The smallest of the hospitals is the 100-bed Kabarole Missionary Hospital, a community hospital administered by the Church of Uganda, originally founded by John Edward Church of the Church Mission Society.[15]

## Education

[edit]

The city houses three institutions of higher learning. The main campus of Mountains of the Moon University, previously a private university, but now a public university, is located in the city center.[16] Also located within the city is the main campus of Uganda Pentecostal University, a private university affiliated with the Pentecostal Movement.[17][18] A new university, the Fins Medical University, was established in the city in 2018.[19] St. Mary's Minor Seminary, a Catholic secondary school for prospective Catholic priests, is also located in Fort Portal.[20]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Beenie Gunter: dancehall artist
* Juliana Kanyomozi: singer
* Margaret Blick Kigozi: commonly known as Maggie Kigozi; medical doctor, business consultant, educator, and sportswoman; born here in 1950
* Nobel Mayombo (1965–2007): brigadier general in the UPDF, lawyer and legislator
* Kayanja Muhanga: lieutenant general in the UPDF; commander of the Land Forces of the UPDF since October 2022
* Andrew Mwenda: journalist
* Edward Rugumayo: politician, diplomat, author, academic and environmentalist
* Asaba Ruyonga: current city mayor
* Sylvia Rwabogo: journalist and politician; served as the District Woman Representative for Kabarole District, in the 10th Parliament (2016–2021)

## See also

[edit]

* Tooro sub-region
* List of cities and towns in Uganda

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Uganda Bureau of Statistics (14 June 2020). "The population of all Ugandan cities and towns with more than 15,000 inhabitants according to census results and latest official projections: Fort Portal, Western Region" (Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics). Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
2. ^ Kaji, Shigeki (2007). A Rutooro Vocabulary. PanLex Project The Long Now Foundation. アジア・アフリカ言語文化研究所. p. 121\. ISBN 978-4-87297-890-2.
3. ^ Ampurire, Paul (22 May 2019). "Cabinet Approves Phased Creation Of Nine New Cities Beginning 2020". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
4. ^ Uganda Radio Network (21 May 2019). "Cabinet approves creation of nine cities". Daily Monitor quoting Uganda Radio Network. Kampala. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
5. ^ "Distance between Post Office Building, Kampala Road, Kampala, Uganda and Post Office, Fort Portal, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
6. ^ "Location of Fort Portal (Kabarole), Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
7. ^ Floodmap.net (3 January 2019). "Elevation of Fort Portal, Uganda". Floodmap.net. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
8. ^ Opondo, Ofwono. "The seven new cities; Lessons from Kampala". Uganda Media Centre. Uganda Media Centre. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
9. ^ Wilson Asiimwe (25 August 2021). "Fort Portal administrative units struggle to operate". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
10. ^ Wilson Asiimwe (28 September 2022). "Fort Portal: From small town to top tourism city". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
11. ^ a b "Estimated Population of Fort Portal In 2002, 2010 & 2011" (PDF). Uganda Bureau of Statistics. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
12. ^ a b UBOS (27 August 2014). "The Population of The Regions of the Republic of Uganda And All Cities And Towns of More Than 15,000 Inhabitants". Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). Retrieved 22 February 2015.
13. ^ Atuhaire, Scovia (10 August 2016). "Uganda: Drug Scarcity Hits Fort Portal Referral Hospital". Daily Monitor via AllAfrica.com. Kampala. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
14. ^ RCDFP (2014). "Overview of Holy Family Virika Hospital". Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal (RCDFP). Retrieved 17 October 2016.
15. ^ KHCOU (17 October 2016). "Kabarole Hospital, Church of Uganda". Fort Portal: Kabarole Hospital, Church of Uganda (KHCOU). Retrieved 17 October 2016.
16. ^ Alex Ashaba (29 June 2022). "Govt injects Shs40 billion to make Moon university public". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
17. ^ Carol Natukunda (14 July 2007). "Four more universities approved". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
18. ^ "Location of the Main Campus of Uganda Pentecostal University" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
19. ^ Uganda National Council for Higher Education (2019). "Location of Fins Medical University". Kampala: Uganda National Council for Higher Education. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
20. ^ RCDFP (2014). "Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal: History and Growth". Fort Portal: Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal (RCDFP). Retrieved 17 October 2016.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Portal.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Fort Portal.

* A peep into Fort Portal town
* Google Map of Fort Portal with coordinates

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

* v
* t
* e

Kabarole District

Capital: Kabarole

Counties and
sub-counties|

* Burahya County

Towns and
villages|

* Fort Portal
* Kabarole
* Karago
* Kasusu
* Kijura
* Itojo
* Kichwamba
* Nyakasura

Geography|

* Rwenzori Mountains

Economy|

* Absa Bank Uganda Limited
* Centenary Bank
* DFCU Bank
* Equity Bank Uganda Limited
* Finance Trust Bank
* KCB Bank Uganda Limited
* PostBank Uganda
* Pride Microfinance Limited
* Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited
* United Bank for Africa

Notable
landmarks|

* Kibaale National Park
* Rwenzori National Park
* Rwenzori Mountains
* Semliki Wildlife Reserve
* Palace of Omukama of Toro
* Lake Albert
* Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal

Health|

* Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital
* Kitojo Hospital
* Virika Hospital

Education|

* Mountains of the Moon University
* Fins Medical University
* Uganda Pentecostal University
* UMU Fort Portal Polytechnic Campus
* Uganda Technical College, Kichwamba
* St. Leo's College, Kyegobe
* Nyakasura School

Energy|

* Mahoma Hydroelectric Power Station

Transport|

* Fort Portal Airport
* Semliki Airstrip
* Fort Portal–Kasese–Mpondwe Road
* Fort Portal–Bundibugyo–Lamia Road
* Nyakahita–Kazo–Kamwenge–Fort Portal Road
* Mubende–Kyegegwa–Kyenjojo–Fort Portal Road

Notable people|

* Aziz Azion
* Crescent Baguma
* Ronnie Balya
* Patrick Bitature
* Robina Bwita
* William Byaruhanga
* Stephen Isabalija
* Clovis Kalyebara
* Juliana Kanyomozi
* Nobel Mayombo
* Kayanja Muhanga
* Andrew Mwenda
* Barbara Ntambirweki
* John Ntambirweki
* Christine Nyangoma
* Doreen Nyanjura
* Rukidi IV of Toro
* Olimi III of Toro
* Alex Ruhunda
* Rukidi III of Toro
* Asaba Edson Ruyonga

*[lit.]: literal translation
*[Pop.]: Population
*[±%]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template