Regional Districts
Kabarole and Bunyangabu Districts
Kabarole District is situated in a strategically significant area, bordered by Ntoroko District to the north, Kibaale District to the northeast, Kyenjojo District to the east, Kamwenge District to the southeast, Kasese District to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest. To the west, it is separated from Bundibugyo District by the majestic Rwenzori Mountains. The district’s central hub, Fort Portal, is located approximately 320 kilometers (200 miles) by road from Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
The district is home to a diverse population, with the Batoro, Batuku, and Basongora ethnic groups making up about 52% of the residents. The Bakiga community comprises 28%, followed by the Bakonjo and the Bamba. The primary languages spoken in the district include Rutooro, Rukiga, and Runyankore.
Within Kabarole District, RSTC collaborates with two coffee cooperatives: Karangura Peak Coffee Growers Cooperative and Kabonero Mountainous Coffee Growers Cooperative. These cooperatives represent farmers from four hard-to-reach school communities: Mt. Gessi, Bulyambaghu, Nyamba, and Mahyooro.
Additionally, RSTC extends its support to 13 women’s craft groups, which are spread throughout Fort Portal Municipality, helping to foster economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods within these communities.
Bundibugyo District
Bundibugyo District is strategically located, bordered by Ntoroko District to the northeast, Kibaale District to the east, Kabarole District to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and north. The district’s administrative center, Bundibugyo, is approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) by road west of Fort Portal and about 72 kilometers (45 miles) north of Kasese town.
As Uganda’s largest producer of cocoa, Bundibugyo contributes unprocessed beans valued at approximately UGX 90 billion annually. In this region, RSTC partners with two cooperatives: Buka Bugyendera Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative and Bundikakemba Cocoa Growers Cooperative. These cooperatives serve farmers from four hard-to-reach school communities: Bupomboli, Busamba, Karangitsio, and Bundikakamba, fostering agricultural development and community growth in these areas.
Kasese District
Kasese District is located along the equator and shares borders with Kabarole District to the north, Kamwenge District to the east, Rubirizi District to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. The district’s administrative center, Kasese, is situated approximately 359 kilometers (223 miles) by road west of Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city.
The district’s economy is predominantly agricultural, with over 85% of the population engaged in subsistence farming. Most of the agricultural produce is sold locally or transported to Kampala and other cities across Uganda. Additionally, fish farming is gradually gaining popularity in the district, with high demand for fish both locally and in neighboring countries.
In Kasese District, RSTC collaborates with the Rwenzori Farmers Marketing Cooperative Society, which specializes in cotton and coffee production. This cooperative represents farmers from four hard-to-reach communities: Kihugamiyagha, Kihungu, Kisamba, and Nyamisule, supporting their agricultural activities and enhancing their market access.