Fort Portal City is getting a major facelift ahead of the return of the remains of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. City authorities are stepping up efforts to clean, beautify and improve infrastructure to ensure the town is clean, orderly and befitting the final journey of the Tooro king.
The King, who died last Thursday while receiving medical treatment in the United States, is expected to arrive at Entebbe International Airport this morning before being airlifted to Fort Portal, where thousands of mourners and high-profile guests are expected to gather for the funeral and related ceremonies.
In preparation, the city leadership has launched a series of environmental conservation and beautification activities, including planting flowers around roundabouts and cleaning streets across the city.
The campaign is intended not only to create a welcoming environment for national and international dignitaries, but also to honour the legacy of a king whose reign placed considerable emphasis on environmental conservation and community responsibility.
Rev. Kintu Willy Muhanga, the Mayor of Fort Portal Tourism City, told URN on Thursday that maintaining a clean and orderly city is one way of paying tribute to King Oyo, who championed the Baragira Kiki programme, encouraging residents to take responsibility for the cleanliness and wellbeing of their communities.
Muhanga said the city could not overlook the late king’s contribution to environmental conservation, adding that his legacy should continue to inspire residents.
The mayor also revealed that the city is undertaking infrastructure improvements, including the construction of zebra crossings to enhance pedestrian safety and ease movement within the city.
The improvements are aimed at ensuring that Fort Portal is orderly, safe and presentable as it receives the many dignitaries and visitors expected to attend King Oyo’s funeral and related ceremonies. Muhanga said maintaining cleanliness and order was a responsibility city leaders could not afford to neglect, particularly at a time when the city is preparing to host guests from across Uganda and beyond.
For city residents, the preparations are also an opportunity to preserve the values associated with King Oyo’s reign. Jessica Kabasinguzi, who operates a mobile money outlet along Rukidi III Street, said residents were committed to keeping Fort Portal clean and safe as a mark of respect for the late king.
She said the responsibility should extend beyond the funeral period, with residents continuing to uphold the environmental and civic values championed by King Oyo.
On Monday, leaders launched a campaign to plant one million trees across Fort Portal City and the wider Tooro Kingdom in honour and memory of the late Omukama Oyo.
The tree-planting campaign is expected to serve as a lasting tribute to the late king, reinforcing his legacy of environmental conservation while contributing to the restoration and beautification of the kingdom’s environment-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
