It is native from Ethiopia through east-central tropical Africa (Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zaire) to Mozambique.

Mitragyna rubrostipulata contains the alkaloids hirsuteine, mitraphylline, isomitraphylline, isorotundifoline, rotundifoline-N-oxide, isorhynchophylline, rhynchophylline-N-oxide, rhynchophylline, and rotundifoline.

The two other top species used for malaria are Warburgia salutaris and Syzygium guineense, all of them are trees with bark as main plant part used.

The trees are also difficult to access in the rainy season, when the mosquitoes and malaria are at the worst, as the forest is flooded for 2–3 months.

Together with representatives for UGANEB, the villagers also visited Tooro Botanical Gardens in Fort Portal and the Namanve Tree Seed Centre in Kampala, which gave them valuable inspiration and knowledge.