FORT PORTAL

town, western Uganda, situated at an elevation of about 5,000 feet (1,500 m) and overlooking the mountains of the Ruwenzori Range and the Mufumbiro volcanoes. Roads link it with Rubona, Kyenjojo, and Kyegegwa. It is an important market and processing centre for cotton, peanuts (groundnuts), sesame, corn (maize), coffee, tobacco, castor-oil seeds, tea, tropical fruits, and vegetables. A number of tea estates are concentrated east of the town. Tea, coffee, vegetable oils, leather, fruit, dairy products, meat, cotton, grain, and tobacco are processed. Industrial products include beverages, textiles, furniture, paper, soap, confectionery, shoes, and metal goods. Fort Portal provides a base for mountaineering in the Ruwenzori Range and has the palace of the omukama (king) of Toro. The Bwamba Pass, the Hot Springs of Bundibugyo, and the Ileri Forest are nearby points of interest. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 32,627.