Fort Portal, Uganda | URN | Fort Portal City Central Division councillors are pushing for the city to be renamed Tooro City, arguing that its current name does not reflect the area’s cultural heritage and indigenous identity. The proposal was presented by Clovis Kalenzi, the male councillor representing Older Persons, during a Central Division Council meeting held at Kitumba Hall on October 30.
Kalenzi argued that the Tooro Kingdom existed long before British colonial rule and that the city, which hosts the kingdom’s cultural and administrative institutions, should bear a name that reflects its historical roots. He noted that several towns across Uganda have retained their indigenous names, while Fort Portal continues to carry a foreign name associated with the country’s colonial past.
Kalenzi said Ugandans should take pride in their history and cultural identity instead of continuing to honour their former colonial masters through place names. He also argued that renaming the city could boost its tourism appeal by highlighting its cultural significance and the presence of the Tooro Kingdom palace and headquarters.
Kalenzi added that changing the name would not affect the city’s development programmes or administrative structures, saying the proposal was intended to give the city an identity that reflects its history and cultural heritage.
Rose Kaliza Bakasara, another councillor, said the proposal seeks to protect and promote the area’s indigenous identity, which she believes is overshadowed by its colonial-era name. Bakasara argued that the area was known as Tooro before colonial rule and that adopting the name would help preserve its historical and cultural significance.
She said the city is home to the main palace of the Tooro Kingdom and serves as an administrative centre for the Tooro-Rwenzori region, making Tooro a more appropriate name. However, Bakasara emphasised that the proposal remains a motion that must be debated by council and subjected to public consultations before any decision is made.
Benard Ategeka, the councillor representing Kijanju Ward, said Ugandans should take pride in their identity rather than continue to honour former colonial masters, noting that Britain does not have places named after Ugandans or other Africans. Elizabeth Kengonzi, the Fort Portal Central Division Deputy Mayor, said the proposed name change would help residents and visitors better understand and appreciate the history and identity of the Tooro region.
Fort Portal derives its name from Sir Gerald Portal, a British diplomat who arrived in Uganda in 1893. He served as Britain’s Consul-General for East Africa and later as Special Commissioner to Uganda, playing a key role in the establishment of the Uganda Protectorate. The town was named after him because he established his base in the area during his time in Uganda. Fort Portal was formerly a municipality before attaining city status in July 2020 as part of Uganda’s urbanisation programme.
