Prior to this, it was part of Toro kingdom that comprised the present districts of Bundibugyo, Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge and Kasese.

The district has had a history of armed conflict ever since Uganda got independence in 1962; the district witnessed a number of civil wars in the form of guerrilla warfare. Education was greatly affected and most schools closed down and those near camps got over crowded. Children in higher education got affected because parents could not afford school fees to send their children to secondary or tertiary institutions

The District is said to have hosted England’s Queen Elizabeth in 1954. During her visit she launched Queen Elizabeth National Park situated at the base of the Ruwenzori Mountains. The Queen Elizabeth National Park offers an East African game park with crater-dotted hills and open grassland. It supports an abundance of wildlife, including elephant, lion, leopard and the unique Ugandan antelope, the kob.