Its main town was Fort Portal before 1 July 2020 when it was elevated to a city, separating it from Kabarole district.

[5] Subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry are the main economic activities in Kabarole District.

In 2005, there were approximately 18,695 heads of exotic/cross bred cattle, 35,199 indigenous cattle, 75,897 goats, 6,442 sheep, 12,162 pigs, 9,776 exotic/cross bred chicken, 131,255 local chicken, 4,467 ducks, 1,040 turkeys, 326 guinea fowl, and 122 geese in the district.

Commercial fishing occurs on about 30 of the 52 crater lakes, scattered in Kabarole District.

The main fish species harvested from the crater lakes is the small Haplochromines (Nkejje).