Security personnel attached to trial judge Alice Komuhangi Khauka were forced to act swiftly after a heavy hailstorm tore through the tent sheltering the bar and bench during the murder trial of Christopher Okello Onyum in the lakeside township of Ggaba.
Shortly after proceedings resumed from a 40-minute lunch break, what began as a light drizzle quickly escalated into a violent storm. Strong winds yanked the main tent backward, exposing judicial officers, lawyers, and court staff to pounding rain and hail.
A separate tent housing members of the public also showed signs of collapse, triggering alarm among attendees.
However, a prompt response from security officers helped stabilise the structure before it could give way completely.
The high-profile suspect was quickly evacuated from the scene and returned to the holding dock as confusion and panic briefly engulfed the lakeside open court venue.
Court officials scrambled to secure documents and equipment as the storm intensified.
Onlookers watched in disbelief, with some resorting to superstition, suggesting the unusual incident could signal misfortune surrounding the public hearing.
The disruption comes days after another dramatic episode involving the case, in which a blogger was seriously injured when a Uganda Prisons Service van transporting the suspect reportedly lost control and ran over him.
Proceedings are expected to resume once conditions stabilise and the court setup is restored.
