Highlights
Fort Portal is a city located in the Western Region of Uganda. Also known as ‘Uganda’s Tourism Capital’ Fort Portal is the seat of both Kabarole District and historically is the capital of the Toro Kingdom.
Located approximately 296 kilometres (184 miles) by road, west of Kampala, Fort Portal is approximately a four hour road journey from Uganda’s capital city.
The geographical coordinates of Fort Portal City are 0°39’16.0″N, 30°16’28.0″E (Latitude:0.654444; Longitude:30.274444) and is situated at an average elevation of 1,523 metres (4,997 ft) above sea level.
On 1st July 2020, Fort Portal was elevated from a municipality to “Tourism city” status.
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.
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.
Bundibugyo District is a district in the Western Region of Uganda, bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The town of Bundibugyo is where both the district headquarters and the Bwamba Kingdom seat (Obudhingiya Bwa Bwamba) are located. Before July 2010, the districts of Ntoroko and Bundibugyo were one. These districts are the only two in Uganda that lie west of the Rwenzori Mountains. Bundibugyo (With Ntoroko) was first named Semuliki district on separating it from the Greater Kabarole district alongside Rwenzori district (Kasese) in 1974.
Bundibugyo District is bordered by Ntoroko District to the northeast, Kabarole District to the east, Bunyangabu District to the southeast, Kasese District to the south and the D.R.C to the west and north. The district headquarters at Bundibugyo are located approximately 83 kilometres (52 miles) by road, west of Fort Portal city, the capital of Rwenzori Sub-region. This is about 72 kilometres (45 miles), north of Kasese town but no roads directly link Kasese and Bundibugyo districts due to the Rwenzori Mountains lying between these two districts. Consequently, travellers between the two districts must go around the mountains via Bunyangabu, Kabarole, and Ntoroko districts, an approximate total distance of 155 kilometres (96 mi). Alternatively you can cross the border and travel via the D.R.C or traverse the mountains by flying or on foot!
In 2012, the population of the Bundibugyo district was estimated at 261,700.