KIGUMBA

Kigumba is a tea estate situated in the Kyenjojo region of western Uganda, at an altitude of 1,357 metres. The estate is operated by Rwenzori Commodities and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the international tea buyers active in East African sourcing.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,357 metres above sea level and positioned almost exactly on the equator, Kigumba occupies a mid-elevation zone where temperatures tend to be moderated by altitude whilst day-length remains stable year-round. Estates at this latitude and elevation in Uganda typically experience relatively consistent growing conditions without the sharp seasonal dormancy seen in higher-latitude origins, though rainfall patterns still shape the intensity of flush periods.

The Kyenjojo region lies in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains to the west, where volcanic soils and reliable precipitation generally support year-round vegetative growth. Mid-elevation sites such as this tend to yield leaf that balances briskness with body, though specific soil composition and microclimate will vary considerably even within a single district.

Tea Produced

Kigumba produces both black and green teas. Black teas from Ugandan estates at this elevation typically offer a robust, malty character with moderate astringency and a coppery liquor, well suited to blending and to markets that favour strength and colour. Green tea production from African origins remains less common than orthodox or CTC black, but estates in this altitude band can generally produce green styles with a clean, vegetal profile, provided processing is carefully managed to preserve freshness.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kigumba is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major vertically integrated tea business with plantation, processing, blending and marketing operations across Africa and Asia. Finlays' presence as a buyer suggests that Kigumba's output meets the quality and volume requirements of the multinational blended-tea supply chain, positioning the estate within the large-scale commercial market that supplies international retail brands and foodservice channels.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Operator

The estate is operated by Rwenzori Commodities, a company that manages a portfolio of tea-growing assets in Uganda. Rwenzori Commodities operates two other estates recorded in this directory, indicating a multi-site operation with the scale and infrastructure typical of regional players in the Ugandan tea sector.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

KIGUMBA lies at 0.6093, 30.6401 in Kyenjojo, Uganda. Its 1357 m elevation is the joint 17th highest of 30 estates we map in Uganda. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited(Mrul), Ankole Tea Factory, Kalinzu Garden — under 1 km away · Fort Portal
• Nyambya Tea Company Limited — under 1 km away · Western
• Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden — 17 km away · Fort Portal
• Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Mwenge Tea Factory, Rwenzori Garden — 20 km away · Fort Portal
• KYENJOJO — 23 km away · Mabale

Estates at a Similar Altitude to KIGUMBA

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KIGUMBA (1,357 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KIGUMBA recorded 943 mm in 2025, 70% less than the 3,178 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
Hatton Plantations, Waltrim	Central Province, Sri Lanka	1,357 m	3,681 mm	22.7 °C
Adams View	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	1,355 m	4,839 mm	21.5 °C
NJERU	Box 241 - Meru, Kenya	1,354 m	1,229 mm	24.9 °C
Panniar Tea Estate	Idukki, India	1,351 m	2,349 mm	22.7 °C
Vagavurrai	Kerala, India	1,369 m	3,791 mm	22.7 °C

KIGUMBA Compared with Uganda

In Uganda, KIGUMBA is the driest of the 30 estates by 2025 rainfall; lower than 62% of the others by elevation; warmer than 86% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets KIGUMBA against the 29 other estates we map in Uganda, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	KIGUMBA	Country median	Country range
Elevation	1,357 m	1,481 m	1,070 to 1,808 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	943 mm	1,251 mm	943 to 1,664 mm
Mean daily high	27.4 °C	26.0 °C	23.1 to 29.7 °C
Mean overnight low	16.8 °C	16.3 °C	14.4 to 18.7 °C

Observed Climate at KIGUMBA (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KIGUMBA’s coordinates recorded 943 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (148 mm) and the driest was January (2 mm). Daytime highs averaged 27.4 °C and overnight lows 16.8 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and November the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	943 mm
Wettest month	October (148 mm)
Driest month	January (2 mm)
Mean daily high	27.4 °C
Mean overnight low	16.8 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is KIGUMBA located?

KIGUMBA is in Kyenjojo, Uganda, at coordinates 0.6093, 30.6401, at an elevation of about 1357 metres.

Who operates KIGUMBA?

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

What type of tea does KIGUMBA produce?

KIGUMBA is recorded as producing black and green tea.

Which buyers does KIGUMBA supply?

Public supplier disclosures record KIGUMBA as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does KIGUMBA receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 943 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (148 mm).

How does KIGUMBA compare with estates at a similar elevation?

KIGUMBA recorded 943 mm in 2025, 70% less rain than the 3,178 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].