By Swift Reporter
Court proceedings at Mbale High Court were thrown into chaos after a massive swarm of bees invaded the premises, forcing warders, lawyers, staff, and inmates to flee for safety and temporarily halting judicial activity.
The unusual incident is reported to have begun around 5 p.m. when a swarm of bees suddenly emerged from the court cells located in the basement. The insects quickly spread throughout the building, overwhelming courtrooms, offices, and surrounding areas.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as those inside the court scrambled for cover. Prison warders and court security personnel were forced to abandon their posts as the swarm intensified, stinging indiscriminately and causing widespread disorder.
Two warders were reportedly stung and later received medical attention at a nearby facility. Authorities also confirmed that two inmates from Malukhu Government Prison took advantage of the confusion and escaped during the incident.
Efforts by staff to control the situation, including attempts to drive the bees away, were unsuccessful as the swarm continued to spread through the court compound. The disruption forced a complete suspension of operations for approximately one hour.
At the time of the incident, preparations were underway for proceedings related to a Bugisu cultural leadership dispute, which were subsequently halted.
Security agencies have since launched a search for the escaped inmates, while investigations are also expected into how the swarm gained access to the court cells.
By evening, normal operations had not yet fully resumed, with authorities assessing damage and reinforcing security measures.
The incident has drawn widespread attention locally, with residents and social media users reacting with a mix of shock and humor over the rare disruption to court proceedings.
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