Uganda Today Edition: Swarm of Bees Crashes “Buganda for Museveni” Rally in Masaka: A Bad Omen or Natural Incident?
By Uganda Today Political Desk
Published by www.ugandatoday.co.ug
Lwengo, Masaka – A political rally convened by the NRM Buganda Caucus under the strategic banner “Buganda for Museveni” was on Sunday brought to a dramatic halt after a sudden and aggressive invasion of bees engulfed the venue, sending hundreds of participants fleeing in panic.
The event, scheduled to take place in Lwengo District within Greater Masaka, was aimed at rallying grassroots support for President Yoweri Museveni in the Buganda region ahead of the 2026 general elections. However, just as party officials were preparing to unveil key mobilization strategies and address the crowd, a swarm of bees descended upon the gathering, disrupting the program and forcing organizers to postpone the rally indefinitely.
“We had just set up the public address system and were mobilizing local leaders when chaos erupted,” said Sarah Namuganza, one of the rally coordinators. “People ran in all directions. Some were stung. It was complete mayhem.”
Cultural Interpretations: A Dark Omen?
While the NRM’s organizing committee has described the bee invasion as an unfortunate act of nature, several Buganda cultural observers and elders have interpreted the incident differently — calling it a spiritual warning and a bad omen.
According to Buganda traditional belief systems, the sudden and unprovoked appearance of bees at a communal gathering, particularly one involving leadership or public declarations, is believed to signify ancestral displeasure or impending misfortune.
“In our traditions, bees don’t just appear in the middle of political activity without reason,” explained Mzee Lule Kaggwa, a respected clan elder in Masaka. “They are messengers of the spiritual world, and their presence suggests that those convening the rally may not have the blessings of the ancestors or the spirits that guard Buganda.”
Political Implications and Fallout
The rally was intended to mark the official launch of the “Buganda for Museveni” campaign — an ambitious effort by the NRM Buganda Caucus to reverse what party insiders privately admit is waning support for President Museveni in the region.
Over the past three electoral cycles, Buganda — once a stronghold of the ruling National Resistance Movement — has increasingly tilted towards opposition forces, especially the National Unity Platform (NUP) led by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
“This is not just a PR disaster, it’s symbolic,” noted Dr. Esther Kafeero, a political analyst at Makerere University. “The bees might be natural, but to the Baganda electorate, this will be interpreted as the land rejecting the message — or the messenger.”
NRM Caucus Speaks Out
Speaking to Uganda Today after the aborted event, NRM Buganda Caucus Chairperson, Hon. Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, downplayed the incident but acknowledged its unfortunate timing.
“We are not superstitious. Bees are part of nature, and sometimes nature gets in the way. But our resolve to strengthen support for the President in Buganda remains unshaken,” he said. “We’ll reschedule the rally and come back stronger.”
Still, several party members expressed concern over the symbolism and public perception that may now surround the “Buganda for Museveni” campaign.
Voices from the Ground
On the ground in Lwengo, where news of the bee attack spread rapidly, reactions were mixed. Some locals saw it as divine intervention, others as a strange coincidence, but most were quick to point out the social and political disconnect between the NRM leadership and the grassroots.
“Museveni has ignored Buganda’s land issues, fed us empty promises, and now he sends bees?” joked John Musoke, a boda boda rider in Kyazanga town. “Maybe it’s time the bees voted too.”
What’s Next?
As the NRM scrambles to regroup, the dramatic disruption in Masaka could prove to be a pivotal moment in the political chessboard of Buganda. Whether coincidence or cultural harbinger, the bee invasion may linger in the minds of many as a symbol of resistance—natural or spiritual—against the ruling party’s renewed ambitions in the region.
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