Fort Portal is one of Uganda’s most popular cities. It is located in the Kabarole district of the kingdom of Tooro. It lies at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains (with a maximum height of 5019 m), 50 km from Queen Elizabeth National Park, and about 30 km from Kibale National Park.

To reach Fort Portal, you can take two routes from Entebbe or Kampala. One is via Mityana, with a travel time of approximately 5 hours. The other route is through Mbarara, the largest city in western Uganda, although this option takes about 8 hours by road due to the distance.

Fort Portal serves as the epicentre of the Tooro kingdom and is home to the Toro king’s palace. It is the only city with an English name, as it was named during the 1960s during the British protectorate.

The city has become popular due to its proximity to important tourist attractions. For example, Kibale National Park is famous for chimpanzee trekking and 12 other primate species. In addition to the area’s craters, waterfalls, and caves, Kibale stands out for chimpanzee tracking and visits to Bigodi Sanctuary.

Fort Portal also serves as a gateway for mountaineers wishing to climb Rwenzori, whose views can be enjoyed from various points in the city. Queen Elizabeth National Park is only 3 or 4 hours away, while Semuliki National Park is approximately 3 hours away.

On the routes organized by Muafrika Expeditions in Uganda, we always stop at Fort Portal. Even if no visits are scheduled, it is a must-visit destination and an essential stopover, whether on the way to Queen Elizabeth or in the opposite direction towards Murchison Falls.