President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has committed to supporting the redevelopment of the Muchwa Building in Fort Portal, aiming to establish it as a landmark for culture, youth, and tourism within the Tooro Kingdom.

This promise followed a significant meeting at Rwakitura, where the President convened with leaders from Tooro Kingdom, including Prime Minister Omuhikirwa Calvin Armstrong Rwomire.

After the discussions, President Museveni stated that the gathering involved members of the Tooro delegation, including the Deputy Prime Minister and ministers in charge of youth and tourism, to address key issues regarding cultural preservation and development strategies.

“We reached an agreement that the government will facilitate the transformation of the Muchwa Building into a versatile legacy centre, aimed at conserving Tooro’s cultural heritage, engaging the youth, boosting tourism, and ensuring economic viability,” Museveni remarked.

The redevelopment initiative illustrates the government’s increasing focus on leveraging culture as a means to enhance local economies, promote tourism, and empower the youth. The Muchwa Building, a historical emblem of Tooro, will be refurbished to merge heritage conservation with contemporary economic functions.

By endorsing this project, the government is reinforcing its partnership with cultural institutions, emphasizing their role in national development, especially in promoting tourism and initiatives that benefit youth and contribute to wealth generation and community involvement.

The planned legacy centre is anticipated to strengthen Fort Portal’s reputation as a cultural tourism centre while preserving the historical treasures of the Tooro Kingdom 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.