In short: Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden is a tea estate in the Fort Portal region of Uganda at 1,533 metres, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden is a tea estate situated in the Fort Portal region of Uganda, at an elevation of 1,533 metres. The estate is operated by Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited and is known to supply Finlays, a significant player in the global tea trade. The estate produces both black and green tea.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,533 metres and positioned virtually on the equator, the estate occupies a mid-elevation zone where day length remains consistent throughout the year, potentially allowing for an even growing season without the pronounced dormancy periods seen at higher latitudes. Estates at this altitude in equatorial East Africa typically benefit from moderated temperatures and reliable precipitation patterns, conditions that tend to encourage steady vegetative growth.
The Fort Portal region's elevation generally places it above the hottest lowland zones whilst remaining below the cooler highlands, a band that often produces leaf with moderate astringency and body. Diurnal temperature variation at this altitude can be significant, and such fluctuations tend to slow leaf maturation, which may contribute to the development of more complex biochemical profiles in the harvested shoots.
Tea Produced
The estate produces both black and green tea. Black teas from mid-elevation Ugandan estates such as this typically yield a copper-coloured liquor with moderate body and a balance of briskness and smoothness, characteristics often associated with CTC processing common in the region. Green tea production at equatorial estates tends to produce leaf that, when processed with care, can offer a lighter, more vegetal cup, though exact character will depend heavily on manufacturing technique and the specific cultivars employed.
Supply Chain & Market Position
The estate is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with extensive sourcing, blending, and packing operations serving major retail and foodservice buyers worldwide. This relationship suggests that output from Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden enters a globally distributed supply chain, likely destined for blended products under both retail brands and private labels across multiple markets.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden lies at 0.6659, 30.5013 in Fort Portal, Uganda. Its 1533 m elevation is the highest of 11 estates we map in Fort Portal. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- KYENJOJO — 6.8 km away · Mabale
- Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd — 7.0 km away
- MABALE — 7.0 km away · Mabale
- Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Mwenge Tea Factory, Rwenzori Garden — 12 km away
- Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited(Mrul), Ankole Tea Factory, Kalinzu Garden — 17 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden (1,533 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden recorded 1,309 mm in 2025, 18% less than the 1,592 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,535 m | 2,188 mm | 22.4 °C |
| Glenworth Tea Estate | The Nilgiris, India | 1,536 m | 1,467 mm | 21.8 °C |
| Tingamira Tea Estate | 194 Mutare Road, Zimbabwe | 1,529 m | 876 mm | 24.2 °C |
| Castleton Tea Estate | West Bengal, India | 1,527 m | 2,552 mm | 19.9 °C |
| Jersey Tea Estate | Msasa, Zimbabwe | 1,526 m | 876 mm | 24.2 °C |
Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden Compared with Fort Portal
In Fort Portal, Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden is wetter than 80% of the others by 2025 rainfall; the highest of the 11 estates by elevation; warmer than 60% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden 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 | Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,533 m | 1,515 m | 1,141 to 1,515 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,309 mm | 1,251 mm | 943 to 1,382 mm |
| Mean daily high | 25.4 °C | 24.5 °C | 24.5 to 27.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.3 °C | 16.1 °C | 15.9 to 18.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden’s coordinates recorded 1,309 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (195 mm) and the driest was January (5 mm). Daytime highs averaged 25.4 °C and overnight lows 16.3 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and October the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,309 mm |
| Wettest month | April (195 mm) |
| Driest month | January (5 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 25.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden located?
Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden is in Fort Portal, Uganda, at coordinates 0.6659, 30.5013, at an elevation of about 1533 metres.
Who operates Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden?
Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden is operated by Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden produce?
Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden is recorded as producing black and green tea.
Which buyers does Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,309 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (195 mm).
How does Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden recorded 1,309 mm in 2025, 18% less rain than the 1,592 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].
