Divisi
When to plant Sesame in Butaleja
Eastern, Uganda
Known here as ufuta
Sesame — also called simsim or benniseed — is a tough, upright oilseed that grows from knee to shoulder height and gives a seed that is about half oil.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 19 Jan 2027 – 20 Feb 2027 opens in 16 weeks | 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 1.1 t/ha | same |
| Harvest | From 19 Apr 2027 to 30 Jun 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 90–130 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 65–129 days per hectare, by hand | |
| Rain meets its needs | 96% | |
Rain-fed. These dates are worked out from each place's own rainfall, for a field watered by the season — with irrigation a window can open earlier, close later, or come round more than once a year. Check your own field under What grows, or get the Divisi app for a calendar dated to your farm.
If you only get one chance to plant, aim for around 4 Feb 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for Butaleja leans wet. Plant at the early end of the window, and make sure water can drain off the field — a wet year does more damage through waterlogging than through the rain itself.
Planting after 20 Feb 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Butaleja
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 96% |
For sesame in Butaleja, rain and temperature is the tightest of the three at 96%. This one is fixed. It is why the planting window above is where it is — hitting those dates is the whole of your control here.
The 2027 season in Butaleja
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | February 2027 to December 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 961 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — February, November and December look heavier than usual. Make sure water can drain off the field; a wet year does more damage through waterlogging and disease than through the rain itself. |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +1.4 °C over the growing months. Heat makes the same rain do less, so a dry spell bites sooner: do not plant late, and shade or mulch what you can. |
| What that supports | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 49% of this area. |
| 49% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 285 growing days · about 920 mm · March to December |
|---|---|
| 45% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 312 growing days · about 1,100 mm · February to December |
| 6% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 289 growing days · about 970 mm · February to December |
last updated 17 September 2026
Frost and pest pressure hold back about 15% of yield here.
What sesame needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam or loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.5 and 7.5 |
| Rain it needs | About 300–600 mm across the season |
| Spacing | 37 cm between rows, 7 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen, phosphorus and boron |
What it takes to grow sesame in Butaleja
| Planting material | About 265,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 61 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 16 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 55 kg per hectare |
| In the shops | A basal compound at planting — Compound D, or an NPK blend — covers the phosphate and potash. A nitrogen top dressing — urea or AN — goes on once the crop is established. |
| Hand work | 65–129 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a sesame crop of that size carries off the field. What you actually apply depends on what your soil already holds — which is what a soil test, or the app's field records, tell you.
What to watch for
Grow Sesame with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Butaleja as a whole — your own soil, slope and rainfall will shift the dates. The Divisi app works them out for your field, and dates each job that follows.
Sesame in nearby districts
This calendar moves
Planting windows shift with the forecast. Leave your email and we'll send what changed, and a note when planting time nears — a couple of emails a month at most.
Frequently asked questions
Will sesame grow well in Butaleja?
Butaleja rates as favourable for sesame.
When should I plant sesame in Butaleja?
Typically 19 Jan 2027 to 20 Feb 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Butaleja, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
