President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged government support for the redevelopment of the historic Muchwa Building in Fort Portal, positioning the project as a cultural, youth, and tourism landmark for the Tooro Kingdom.
The commitment followed a high-level meeting held at Rwakitura between the President and Tooro Kingdom leaders led by the Prime Minister, Omuhikirwa Calvin Armstrong Rwomire.
In a statement issued after the meeting, President Museveni said he met the Tooro delegation, including the Prime Minister’s Deputy and the ministers responsible for youth and tourism, to discuss cultural preservation and development priorities.
“We discussed and agreed that the government will support the redevelopment of the historic Muchwa Building in Fort Portal into a multi-purpose legacy centre to preserve Tooro’s cultural heritage, support youth engagement, promote tourism, and ensure economic sustainability,” Museveni said.
The redevelopment plan reflects government’s growing emphasis on culture-led development as a driver of local economies, tourism growth, and youth empowerment. The Muchwa Building, a long-standing symbol of Tooro’s historical identity, is expected to be transformed into a space that blends heritage preservation with modern economic use.
By backing the project, government signals renewed collaboration with cultural institutions as partners in national development, particularly in tourism promotion and youth-focused initiatives aligned with wealth creation and community participation.
The proposed legacy centre is expected to strengthen Fort Portal’s position as a cultural tourism hub while safeguarding Tooro Kingdom’s historical assets for future generations.
About Muchwa Building in Fort Portal
The Muchwa Building is a historic landmark in Fort Portal Tourism City, serving as the official administrative headquarters and seat of power for the Tooro Kingdom. Situated on a lush hill overlooking the city, it stands as a sister site to the Karuzika (Royal Palace) and remains a vital symbol of the kingdom's cultural and administrative resilience.
The building was constructed in 1954 during the colonial era to serve as the meeting place for the Orukurato, the Tooro Kingdom Parliament. Its architecture reflects the mid-20th-century colonial administrative style, imposing, functional, and designed to project authority.
For decades, Muchwa has been the venue where the Kingdom’s supreme council meets to deliberate on cultural laws, heritage preservation, and the welfare of the Batooro people. It traditionally houses the offices of the Omuhikirwa (Prime Minister) and various kingdom ministries.
