MUNOBWA

Munobwa is a tea estate located in the Fort Portal region of western Uganda, at an elevation of 1,515 metres. The estate is operated by Rwenzori Commodities, a company with holdings in Uganda's tea sector, and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays. Munobwa produces both black and green teas.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,515 metres and situated close to the equator, Munobwa occupies a mid-altitude position that typically balances warmth and diurnal temperature variation. Estates in this part of Uganda generally benefit from year-round rainfall and stable temperatures, conditions that tend to support steady vegetative growth without the pronounced dormancy seen in higher latitudes. The Fort Portal region's proximity to the Rwenzori Mountains often contributes to localised afternoon cloud cover and consistent moisture levels, factors that can influence flush patterns and leaf texture.

Equatorial estates at this elevation often experience less extreme seasonal fluctuation than those in sub-tropical zones, which can allow for continuous plucking cycles throughout much of the year. Soil composition in the Fort Portal area is typically volcanic in origin, a characteristic that tends to confer good drainage and a mineral base conducive to tea cultivation. These environmental factors generally shape a leaf with moderate astringency and body, though varietal selection and processing methods remain critical variables.

Tea Produced

Munobwa produces both black and green teas. Black teas from Ugandan estates at this elevation typically offer a rounded, malty profile with moderate briskness and a smooth, approachable character, often less assertive than high-grown East African counterparts. Green teas from equatorial origins tend toward a lighter, more vegetal cup, with gentle sweetness and a softer astringency than teas from higher-altitude or cooler-climate gardens. The estate's production of both categories suggests processing flexibility and potential responsiveness to varied market demand.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Munobwa is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the world's largest vertically integrated tea and coffee businesses with extensive blending, packing, and distribution operations. This relationship places Munobwa within a supply chain that serves major international retail and foodservice brands, indicating that the estate's output is likely oriented toward volume and consistency rather than premium single-origin markets. Finlays' presence as a buyer suggests that Munobwa meets the quality assurance and traceability standards required by multinational suppliers operating in regulated Western markets.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Operator

Rwenzori Commodities operates Munobwa and is recorded as the operator of two other estates in our directory, indicating a multi-site presence in Uganda's tea sector. This scale of operation typically affords logistical efficiencies in processing, transport, and marketing, and may enable the company to aggregate volumes for larger buyers. The operator's name references the Rwenzori Mountains, a prominent feature of the region's geography.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

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

Estates at a Similar Altitude to MUNOBWA

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match MUNOBWA (1,515 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. MUNOBWA 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

MUNOBWA Compared with Fort Portal

In Fort Portal, MUNOBWA 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 MUNOBWA 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	MUNOBWA	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 MUNOBWA (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for MUNOBWA’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 MUNOBWA located?

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

Who operates MUNOBWA?

MUNOBWA is operated by Rwenzori Commodities, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does MUNOBWA produce?

MUNOBWA is recorded as producing black and green tea.

Which buyers does MUNOBWA supply?

Public supplier disclosures record MUNOBWA as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does MUNOBWA receive?

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

How does MUNOBWA compare with estates at a similar elevation?

MUNOBWA 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].