Tooro Kingdom is endowed with fertile soils, breathtaking landscapes, and vast mineral deposits yet many of its economic potentials remain under‑leveraged. According to natural resources assessments, more than 60 minerals including gold, mica, quartz, and gypsum are present in the region, and agricultural staples like coffee, vanilla, macadamia, and Hass avocado are already cultivated.
Despite this abundance, local farmers face challenges in adding value and accessing broader markets. Weak cooperative structures, poor transport links, inadequate packaging, and limited access to credit inhibit downstream processing and limit returns. Roads connecting Tooro to neighbouring regions and to the Democratic Republic of the Congo are particularly important, as they could unlock greater trade opportunities.
Tourism also offers strong growth potential: crater lakes, hot springs, wildlife reserves, and historic sites dot the region, yet some locations remain off the beaten path and inaccessible due to underdeveloped road infrastructure and limited air transport. Similarly, cultural heritage and ecotourism remain under promoted despite being major draws.
To accelerate wealth creation in Tooro, the letter argues for four priority actions: strengthening farmer cooperatives for scale and bargaining power; improving infrastructure roads, local airports, cold storage; investing in value addition, especially in agriculture and minerals; and forging partnerships with government, private sector, NGOs and investors to build local capacity and fund projects.
If these steps are taken, Tooro’s resources could raise living standards, diversify incomes for its population, and reinforce Uganda’s broader ambition of economic prosperity rooted in regional strengths.