Ekyooto Ha Mpango , Experience Tooro and harness the power of culture
Ekyooto Ha Mpango is a cultural tourism festival that happened this yearfrom 25th to 28th November 2021, with the theme Experience Tooro and harness the power of culture which is aimed to exhibit Tooro Kingdom’s history and cultural heritage, market business opportunities and investment opportunities in the region of Fort Portal in Kabarole District and also provide a platform for inclusive conversations on the integration of communities and cultures in the tourism business eco system. The Ekyooto Ha Mpango festival is the first action point under the Tooro’s Kingdom Vision 2045 and the festival includes the Royal Tour of the Tooro Palace of Tooro Kingdom, business clinics that highlight Uganda Safaris tour and tourism related business , sporting activities like a Boat Regatta, marathon and a gala dinner with a fashion show, and a virtual concert that celebrates all forms of art right form music, drama, comedy, craft, poetry to plays, dance and more.
Tooro Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy located in Fort Portal in Western Uganda ruled by the Omukama King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV who gave his closing remark during the launch of the Ekyooto Ha Mpanga festival as, “If Uganda is the Pearl of Africa, then Tooro Kingdom, is the jewel in the Pearl.” Indeed Fort Portal is a wealth of tourist attractions from caves to crater lakes, to waterfalls, host of the magnificent Mountains of the moon, Rwenzori Mountain and is also a neighbour of Kibale Forest which is famous for the Uganda gorilla tracking safaris. Here are a few places with stunning sights for you to explore while in Fort Portal during your next Uganda tour.
- Tooro Kingdom Royal Palace
The Tooro Royal Palace which is also traditionally known as the Karuzika palace is located on a hill in the centre of Fort Portal town. The Palace structure is circular by architectural design and offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Fort Portal town. The Karuzika Palace is also the host of many formal functions of the Tooro Kingdom such as the coronation if the King.
- Karambi Royal Tombs
This is the burial ground of several of the former and deceased Kings of Tooro Kingdom. The tombs are located about 4km South of the Royal Palace and are filled with historical artefacts and personal belongings of the deceased Tooro Kings such as drums, crafts, spears, shields and other royal regalia. This is a dark tourism spot that will give you historical information about the Tooro Kingdom, Tooro culture and geneology of the Royal Family. Just outside the Royal Toms is the cemetery for several other royal family members like the princes and princesses.
- Tooro Botanical Gardens
The Tooro Botanical Gardens is a reforestation site that was founded in 2001 with focus on planting and conserving various tree species and plant life that were at risk of being extinct in Western Uganda. The garden sits on 100 acres of land and encourages sustainable agricultural practices, scientific research, educational tours and tourism activities like nature walks, tree planting and nursing, butterfly breeding activities and birds watching. The garden ia a home to various bird species that include the black-faced Rufus warbler, sunbirds, woodland kingfishers, scaly francolin, hamerkop ant the Ludher’s bush-shrike bird and bird watching can be enjoyed in the tree houses within the garden.
- Amabere Caves
These caves are under a waterfall and are filled with stalagmites and stalactites which is a good place for geographical research on rock formation. However, these caves which are also locally referred to as the Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru which translates to “Breasts of Nyina Mwiru” get their name for a traditional folklore story of a king who did not was his daughter to produce an heir that would take his throne cut off the breasts of his daughter so that she would never be admired by any man. Unfortunately for the king, his daughter got pregnant and the king hid her in those caves. It is traditional believed that the breast-like structures in the cave are her breasts that grew during her pregnancy in the cave. The surroundings of the cave is filled with tropical vegetation and many colobus monkeys. This is a good site to visit to enjoy the refreshing waterfalls and a nature walk during a Uganda Tour in Western Uganda.
- Lake Albert
Lake Albert is Africa’s Seventh largest lake and Uganda’s second largest lake. It is located in the western rift valley in Uganda and is shared by Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The lake has been known by other names in the past such as Lake Mobutu Sese Seko , Lake Mwitanziga and Ablert Nyanza but the name Lake Albert is what has stuck over the years. The lake gets it water from River Semuliki which streams from Lake Edward and the Victoria Nile from Lake Victioria. The lake has six major types of fish habitats that harbour about 40 fish species that vary in size with the most common as the Nile perch and Nile tilapia. While visiting lake Albert you can enjoy activities like sport fishing, boat cruises, sightseeing, canoeing and bird watching.
- Semuliki Natianal game Park
Semuliki National Park is about 50km west of Fort Portal town in Bundibugyo district and is very popularly known for its Sempaya Hot Springs and the population of the Batwa pygmy community. The park is covered with a tropical forest home to 441 recorded bird species and 53 groups of mammals. The Sempaya hot springs generate hot boiling water at 100 degrees Celsius all day and throughout the year. Locals sometimes go to prepare meals over the boiling water which is ready within a very short period of time. The park is also a home for very primates like African red colombus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons and vervets, bird species like the Shoe Bill, African Piculet, White-crested hornbill, yellow- throated Cuckoo and several others, and mammals like antelopes, lions, flying squirrels and also fanged deers. While at the national park you can enjoy activities like chimpanzee trekking, game drives, pygmy community cultural tours, birding, trip to the Sempaya hot springs, and a nature walk through the game reserve thus things to see while at Ekyooto Ha Mpango.
- Rwenzori Mountian National Park
The Rwenzori National park is home of the famous Mountains of the Moon, Mountain Rwenzori, the only snow capped mountain in Uganda. This making a world-class hiking and mountaineering destiantion. As Lily Aja’ova addressed the guests during the Ekyooto ya Mpanga Gala dinner, she shared her experience of the expedition, funded by the United Nations Development Program, on climbing to Peak Margarita ,the highest point of Mountain Rwenzori and remarked that it is the most beautiful and rewarding experience on the entire earth. The mountains of the moon are blessed with a wide variety of flowers and plants with every hour and every altitude gained the land scapes, clours, and views are every changing. There are different layers of vegetations, bamboo zones, Moorland zones, alpine zones and eternal snow at the top of the mountain. The park also contains glaciers, snow fields, about 17 waterfalls, mountain lakes and tropical rain forests. The wide diversity of flora and fauna make it the ultimate trekking experience. The hike to the top is through the Kilembe trail that is a 82km hike to the top that requires an 8 day trek with 6 days to the summit and 2 days to descent depending on the weather conditions and the endurance abilities of the mountain climbers. It is a tiresome yet rewarding hike starting at 1800 meters to an altitude of 5,109 meters on mount Stanely where the peak margarita is found. Other activities that can be enjoyed in the park are hiking and nature walks, camping, cultural encounters with the local community and bird watching thus Ekyooto Ha Mpango.
We at Achieve global Safaris would like to applaud the Tooro Kingdom together with its partners; UNDP, Ministry or Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, Nile Specail breweries, Uganda Tourism Board, Talent Africa, Brac Uganda, NBS television, Capital FM radio, Plascon Paints, Queen Mother Best Foundation, Uganda lodges association, Pet a Tree Foundation, Uganda Wildlife Authority and the National Forestry Authority for coming together for the Ekyooto Ha Mpanga festival to showcase the beauty and tourism opportunities in Western Uganda.
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