A swarm of bees dramatically disrupted the launch of the ‘Buganda for Museveni,’ mobilization campaign in Lwengo District, Uganda, on Sunday.
The cloud of stinging inspects suddenly flew onto the venue, clouding the sky and eventually engulfing a national TV camera, totally obscuring its screen.
The event, organized by Lwengo District Woman MP Cissy Namujju and held at Mbiriizi Seed School, aimed to rally support for President Yoweri Museveni in the Buganda region, where he faced a disappointing performance in the 2021 elections.
The campaign, attended by several Ugandan ministers and local Members of Parliament, including Twaha Kagabo, was part of a strategic push by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to regain ground in Buganda.
Buganda is a historically significant region with complex political dynamics.
Anyway, the unexpected bee swarm stole the spotlight, forcing a momentary pause in coverage as the insects overwhelmed the television equipment.
Surprisingly other cameras at the event remained operational, capturing the chaos as attendees, including MPs Namujju and Kagabo, reportedly scrambled for cover, with some seeking refuge in a presidential mobile toilet.
The incident, widely shared on social media, sparked a mix of amusement and speculation among Ugandans.
Some described the swarm as a “natural protest,” referencing cultural beliefs about bees as omens, while others saw it as a bizarre distraction from the campaign’s objectives.
The Buganda region, where land disputes and tensions over the Buganda Land Board have strained Museveni’s relationship with the kingdom, remains a challenging political landscape for the NRM.
Museveni’s 2021 electoral struggles in the region, coupled with ongoing controversies over mailo land tenure, underscore the stakes of the mobilization effort.
Preliminary investigations suggest the bees were disturbed by nearby activity or environmental factors, a common occurrence in outdoor settings.
No injuries were reported, but the incident briefly disrupted the event’s momentum.
Namujju, undeterred, emphasized the campaign’s goal of uniting Buganda voters behind Museveni, highlighting his commitment to addressing land evictions and economic development.
The swarm of bees incident adds an unusual chapter to Uganda’s vibrant political scene, drawing global attention to the challenges of campaigning in a region marked by cultural and historical complexities.
As Museveni seeks to bolster his support base ahead of future elections, the “Buganda for Museveni” campaign will need to navigate both political opposition and, apparently, nature’s unpredictability.