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I warmly congratulate His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV on his 30th coronation anniversary.
Over three decades, his reign has been marked by daunting challenges, yet he has consistently risen to the occasion with grace and vision. Much has been written about Tooro, but its vast potential remains underexplored.
Nestled in western Uganda, Tooro is at once a food basket, a cultural heartland, a tourism jewel, and a region rich in minerals. When Uganda is celebrated as the Pearl of Africa, a significant part of that shine belongs to Tooro, its fertile soils, breathtaking landscapes, and a geological treasure chest boasting 62 minerals, from gold and mica to quartz and gypsum.
AGRICULTURE: FEEDING UGANDA AND BEYOND
In Tooro, even stray seeds often sprout, a testament to the fertility of its soils. This abundance makes the region central to food security, not just in the Rwenzori subregion but across Uganda.
Cash crops such as coffee, cocoa, vanilla, Hass avocado, macadamia and cassava for starch production already thrive here. To unlock the sector’s full potential, however, farmers need stronger cooperative structures to manage supply chains and capture more value.
Better infrastructure, particularly roads linking Tooro to the rest of Uganda and to the vast Congolese market, would accelerate growth further.
TOURISM: A LANDSCAPE OF WONDERS
Tooro’s landscape is breathtaking. Crater lakes such as Nyabikere, Kyaninga and Saaka glitter like scattered jewels, many still unknown to most Ugandans.
Kibale and Itwara forests host an astonishing diversity of wildlife, with Kibale national park home to one of the world’s richest primate populations, from chimpanzees and colobus monkeys to elephants and a dazzling array of birdlife.
The Rwenzori mountain ranges, steaming hot springs, and sweeping Rift Valley views, add to the region’s allure, complemented by its proximity to Queen Elizabeth national park. Yet much of this potential remains underleveraged.
Improved transport infrastructure, including rehabilitating local airports, could make Tooro far more accessible to both domestic and international visitors.
CULTURAL HERITAGE: A LIVING HISTORY
Tooro’s strength also lies in its cultural depth. Its history stretches back to the Tembuzi, Cwezi and Luo dynasties, preserved in sites like the Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru caves and waterfalls at Nyakasura, and Kaborogota, once the scene of royal battles.
Tooro was historically one of Uganda’s best-organized kingdoms, with structured governance that impressed British colonialists enough to sign the 1900 Agreement. The monarchy was not merely symbolic; it was developmental, with ministries for agriculture, education, culture and health.
The king was both leader and father, maintaining royal granaries and kraals to safeguard his people during times of crisis. That legacy endures. Today, the kingdom remains a custodian of culture and a partner in progress.
MINERALS: A HIDDEN TREASURE
Beneath Tooro’s fertile soils lies another fortune: more than 62 documented minerals, including gold, quartz, gypsum, and mica. Properly managed, this wealth could drive Uganda’s industrialization and expand its export base.
But so far, exploitation has been piecemeal, lacking investment, value addition and safeguards for the environment.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Tooro kingdom has begun forging partnerships to tap its potential. Collaborations with the Uganda Industrial Research Institute have created opportunities for youth skilling, while the National Agricultural Research Organisation’s Rwebitaba Institute continues to support farmers with research and training. Still, more is needed.
By combining its natural wealth, cultural capital and human resource base with strategic alliances, from the private sector to NGOs and international investors, Tooro can multiply its impact.
Tooro Kingdom is more than a region; it is a one-in-a-million opportunity. With its fertile soils, stunning landscapes, rich heritage and mineral resources, Tooro holds the keys to food security, tourism excellence, and sustainable industrial growth.
What remains is the determination to harness these assets through stronger cooperatives, better infrastructure, value addition and purposeful partnerships. If seized, this opportunity will not only ignite prosperity for the people of Tooro but also strengthen Uganda’s claim as the true Pearl of Africa.
The author is an advocate with Kalikumutima & Co. Advocates.
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