Fort Portal
{{Short description|City in Tooro, Western Uganda}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Fort Portal
| other_name = Kabarole
| native_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type =
| motto =
| image_skyline = Fort Portal - Flickr - Dave Proffer (1).jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption =
| image_flag =
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_type =
| blank_emblem_size =
| image_map =
| mapsize =
| map_caption =
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =
| image_dot_map =
| dot_mapsize =
| dot_map_caption =
| dot_x =
| dot_y =
| pushpin_map = Uganda
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uganda
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = 25px Uganda
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = Western Region
| subdivision_type2 = Sub-region
| subdivision_name2 = Tooro sub-region
| subdivision_type3 = District
| subdivision_name3 = Kabarole District
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Asaba Ruyonga
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| leader_title4 =
| leader_name4 =
| established_title =
| established_date =
| established_title2 =
| established_date2 =
| established_title3 =
| established_date3 =
| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_total_sq_mi =
| area_land_sq_mi =
| area_water_sq_mi =
| area_water_percent =
| area_urban_km2 =
| area_urban_sq_mi =
| area_metro_km2 =
| area_metro_sq_mi =
| area_blank1_title =
| area_blank1_km2 =
| area_blank1_sq_mi =
| population_as_of = 2020 UBOS estimate
| population_footnotes =
| population_note =
| population_density_km2 =
| population_density_sq_mi =
| population_metro =
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| population_urban =
| population_density_urban_km2 =
| population_density_urban_sq_mi =
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities
| population_blank1 =
| population_blank2_title = Religions
| population_blank2 =
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
| timezone =
| utc_offset =
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| coordinates = {{coord|00|39|16|N|30|16|28|E|region:UG|display=inline, title}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1523
| elevation_ft =
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code =
| blank_name =
| blank_info =
| blank1_name =
| blank1_info =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
File:Mpanga market Fort Portal.jpg
Fort Portal formerly Kabarole ({{Literal translation|let them see}}){{Cite book |last=Kaji |first=Shigeki |url=http://archive.org/details/rutoorovocabular10kaji |title=A Rutooro Vocabulary |date=2007 |publisher=アジア・アフリカ言語文化研究所 |others=PanLex Project The Long Now Foundation |isbn=978-4-87297-890-2 |page=121}} is a city located in the Western Region of Uganda. It is the seat of both Kabarole District and historically of the Tooro Kingdom.{{cite web|date=22 May 2019 | url=https://www.softpower.ug/cabinet-approves-phased-creation-of-9-new-cities-beginning-2020/ |title=Cabinet Approves Phased Creation Of Nine New Cities Beginning 2020 |access-date=22 May 2019 |publisher=SoftPower Uganda |first=Paul |last=Ampurire | location=Kampala}}{{cite web| url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Cabinet-Museveni-Butime-Gulu-Mbale-Entebbe-nine-cities/688334-5124276-tvet8w/ | title=Cabinet approves creation of nine cities |date=21 May 2019 |access-date=22 May 2019 |newspaper=Daily Monitor quoting Uganda Radio Network |author=Uganda Radio Network | location=Kampala}}
Etymology
Fort Portal was named after British diplomat Sir Gerald Portal, as it was where his base was.
Location
Fort Portal in Kabarole District is located approximately {{convert|296|km|mi}} by road, west of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city, on an all-tarmac two-lane highway.{{google maps|
url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Uganda+Post+Office,+Plot+35+Kampala+Road,+Kampala+P.O.BOX+7106,+KAMPALA/Post+Office,+Fort+Portal/@0.3769097,30.3106906,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x177dbc808cc2ab43:0x7dd3e9e39634c3b!2m2!1d32.5813941!2d0.3139449!1m5!1m1!1s0x1763da7275b9d18b:0x529dbb607a3d2db9!2m2!1d30.2784169!2d0.6586481!3e0 |title=Distance between Post Office Building, Kampala Road, Kampala, Uganda and Post Office, Fort Portal, Uganda |access-date=28 December 2020}} The geographical coordinates of Fort Portal City are 0°39'16.0"N, 30°16'28.0"E (Latitude: 0.654444; Longitude: 30.274444).{{google maps | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/0%C2%B039'16.0%22N+30%C2%B016'28.0%22E/@0.6625465,30.2605648,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0 |
title=Location of Fort Portal (Kabarole), Uganda |access-date=17 October 2016}} Fort Portal is situated at an average elevation of {{convert|1523|m|0}} above sea level.{{cite web |url=http://www.floodmap.net/Elevation/ElevationMap/?gi=233476 |
title=Elevation of Fort Portal, Uganda |date=3 January 2019 | publisher=Floodmap.net |author=Floodmap.net |access-date=3 January 2019}}
City status
File:The Lion Effigy in Fort Portal town Centre01.jpg
On 1 July 2020, Fort Portal was elevated from municipality to a "tourism city" status.{{cite web |last1=Opondo |first1=Ofwono |title=The seven new cities; Lessons from Kampala |url=https://www.mediacentre.go.ug/Opinion/seven-new-cities-lessons-kampala |website=Uganda Media Centre |publisher=Uganda Media Centre |access-date=4 July 2020}} 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.{{cite web| work=New Vision | url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/113012/fort-portal-administrative-units-struggle-to |title=Fort Portal administrative units struggle to operate |date=25 August 2021 | author=Wilson Asiimwe | access-date=22 September 2022 |location=Kampala, Uganda}}{{cite web| url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/fort-portal-from-small-town-to-top-tourism-ci-113347 |work=New Vision |date=28 September 2022 |title=Fort Portal: From small town to top tourism city |author=Wilson Asiimwe |access-date=22 September 2022 | location=Kampala, Uganda}}
Population
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.{{cite web| url=http://www.ubos.org/onlinefiles/uploads/ubos/pdf%20documents/TP52010.pdf |work=Uganda Bureau of Statistics |title=Estimated Population of Fort Portal In 2002, 2010 & 2011 |date=2011 | access-date=17 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707231502/http://www.ubos.org/onlinefiles/uploads/ubos/pdf%20documents/TP52010.pdf |archive-date=7 July 2014}} In August 2014, the national population census put the population at 54,275.{{cite web | url=http://citypopulation.de/Uganda-Cities.html | title=The Population of The Regions of the Republic of Uganda And All Cities And Towns of More Than 15,000 Inhabitants | date=27 August 2014 | access-date=22 February 2015 | publisher=Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) | last=UBOS}} 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.{{cite web| date=14 June 2020 | url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/cities/ |title=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 |work=Citypopulation.de |access-date=24 December 2021 |author=Uganda Bureau of Statistics |format=Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics}}
{{Historical populations| 2002|41,000|2010|46,300|2011|47,100|2014|54,275|2020|60,800||align=none|footnote=source:}}
Healthcare
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.{{cite web|access-date=17 October 2016| url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201608110162.html |date=10 August 2016| title=Uganda: Drug Scarcity Hits Fort Portal Referral Hospital | newspaper=Daily Monitor via AllAfrica.com | first= Scovia | last=Atuhaire | location=Kampala}} 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.{{cite web|access-date=17 October 2016 | url=http://www.fortportaldiocese.org/health-units/ |date=2014 |
title=Overview of Holy Family Virika Hospital |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal (RCDFP)| last=RCDFP}} 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.{{cite web|access-date=17 October 2016 |title=Kabarole Hospital, Church of Uganda | date=17 October 2016|url=http://www.kabarolehospital.co.ug/data/smenu/11/Kabarole-Hospital-C.O.U.html |publisher=Kabarole Hospital, Church of Uganda (KHCOU) |author=KHCOU |location=Fort Portal}}
Education
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.{{cite web |work=Daily Monitor | url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-injects-shs40-billion-to-make-moon-university-public-3863318 |title=Govt injects Shs40 billion to make Moon university public |date=29 June 2022 |author=Alex Ashaba |access-date=22 September 2022 |
location=Kampala, Uganda}} Also located within the city is the main campus of Uganda Pentecostal University, a private university affiliated with the Pentecostal Movement.{{cite web| work=New Vision |date=14 July 2007 | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1161125/universities-approved |title=Four more universities approved |
author=Carol Natukunda |access-date=17 October 2016 |
location=Kampala, Uganda}}{{google maps | title=Location of the Main Campus of Uganda Pentecostal University |access-date=17 October 2016 |
url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/0%C2%B039'44.0%22N+30%C2%B015'58.0%22E/@0.6622236,30.2654588,133m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d0.662222!4d30.266111}} A new university, the Fins Medical University, was established in the city in 2018.{{cite web | url=http://www.unche.or.ug/latest-news/fins-medical-university-fmu.html |publisher=Uganda National Council for Higher Education |title=Location of Fins Medical University | date=2019 |access-date=13 June 2019 | author=Uganda National Council for Higher Education |location=Kampala}} St. Mary's Minor Seminary, a Catholic secondary school for prospective Catholic priests, is also located in Fort Portal.{{cite web| date=2014 | url=http://www.fortportaldiocese.org/aboutus/history-and-growth/ |title=Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal: History and Growth |access-date=17 October 2016 |publisher=Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal (RCDFP) |author=RCDFP |location=Fort Portal}}
Notable people
- 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
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category|Fort Portal}}
{{wikivoyage|Fort Portal}}
- [https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1492083/peep-fort-portal-town A peep into Fort Portal town]
- [http://www.maplandia.com/uganda/kabarole/burahya/fort-portal/ Google Map of Fort Portal with coordinates]
{{Authority control}}
{{Kabarole District}}
Category:Populated places in Western Region, Uganda