Bugambe

Bugambe is a tea estate located in the Fort Portal region of Uganda, positioned at an altitude of 1,515 metres and operated by McLeod Russel Uganda. The estate produces both black and green tea and is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, the British supermarket chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,515 metres above sea level and situated almost directly on the equator, Bugambe occupies a mid-elevation band that typically experiences consistent day-length throughout the year and relatively stable temperatures. Estates at this latitude and altitude often benefit from moderate diurnal temperature variation and well-distributed rainfall, conditions that tend to support year-round vegetative growth with less pronounced seasonal dormancy than is common in higher-latitude tea regions.

The Fort Portal area of western Uganda generally sits within a zone of volcanic soils and reliable precipitation, factors that tend to favour vigorous flush production. Mid-elevation equatorial estates often yield leaf with moderate astringency and body, though specific cup character depends on clone selection, processing protocols, and estate-level agronomy.

Tea Produced

Bugambe produces both black and green tea. Black teas from mid-elevation Ugandan estates typically exhibit a bright, copper-coloured liquor with moderate astringency and a clean, malty character, though style varies with factory practice and the precise cultivars under cultivation. Green tea production at estates primarily focused on orthodox or CTC black manufacture tends to be a smaller, complementary line, often tailored to specific buyer requirements.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Bugambe is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket groups. This relationship places the estate within the supply chain for own-label retail tea, a segment that demands consistent quality, traceability, and competitive pricing. Direct supply links between African estates and major British retailers reflect both legacy trade patterns and the ongoing preference for vertically integrated or closely managed sourcing in the volume tea market.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

Bugambe is operated by McLeod Russel Uganda, a subsidiary of what was historically the world's largest private-sector tea producer. McLeod Russel Uganda operates four other estates recorded in this directory, giving the company a significant operational footprint in the Ugandan tea sector. The group's presence spans multiple African and Asian origins, and its estates typically supply both auction and direct-contract channels.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Bugambe lies at 0.6546, 30.2801 in Fort Portal, Uganda. Its 1515 m elevation is the joint 2nd highest of 11 estates we map in Fort Portal. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Ankole — under 1 km away
• BUZIRASAGAMA — under 1 km away
• Kiko — under 1 km away
• Mpanga Growers Tea Factory Ltd — under 1 km away
• MUNOBWA — under 1 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Bugambe

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Bugambe (1,515 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Bugambe recorded 1,251 mm in 2025, 35% less than the 1,910 mm average across these estates: at the same height, local weather and exposure matter as much as elevation.

Estate	Where	Elevation	Rain 2025	Mean high
Maturata Plantations, Ragalla Group	Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka	1,517 m	2,694 mm	22.3 °C
RUKERI ORGANIC	B.P Kigali, Rwanda	1,510 m	1,053 mm	26.3 °C
Chamu Tea Garden	Chamu Tea Garden, India	1,508 m	2,552 mm	19.6 °C
Tukdah Tea Estate	West Bengal, India	1,504 m	2,376 mm	20.7 °C
Jersey Tea Estate	Msasa, Zimbabwe	1,526 m	876 mm	24.2 °C

Bugambe Compared with Fort Portal

In Fort Portal, Bugambe is drier than 80% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 60% of the others by elevation; the coolest of the 11 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Bugambe against the 10 other estates we map in Fort Portal, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	Bugambe	Region median	Region range
Elevation	1,515 m	1,515 m	1,141 to 1,533 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,251 mm	1,251 mm	943 to 1,382 mm
Mean daily high	24.5 °C	24.9 °C	24.5 to 27.8 °C
Mean overnight low	16.1 °C	16.1 °C	15.9 to 18.0 °C

Observed Climate at Bugambe (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Bugambe’s coordinates recorded 1,251 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (168 mm) and the driest was January (2 mm). Daytime highs averaged 24.5 °C and overnight lows 16.1 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and August the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,251 mm
Wettest month	October (168 mm)
Driest month	January (2 mm)
Mean daily high	24.5 °C
Mean overnight low	16.1 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Bugambe located?

Bugambe is in Fort Portal, Uganda, at coordinates 0.6546, 30.2801, at an elevation of about 1515 metres.

Who operates Bugambe?

Bugambe is operated by McLeod Russel Uganda, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Bugambe produce?

Bugambe is recorded as producing black and green tea.

Which buyers does Bugambe supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Bugambe as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does Bugambe receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,251 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (168 mm).

How does Bugambe compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Bugambe recorded 1,251 mm in 2025, 35% less rain than the 1,910 mm average of estates at a similar elevation.

Data sources: public supply-chain disclosures (Ethical Tea Partnership member lists, Rainforest Alliance certificate holders and retailer supplier disclosures); climate figures are ERA5 reanalysis modelled for the estate’s coordinates via Open-Meteo (calendar year 2025); coordinates and elevations from geocoded records. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].