Nairobi, Kenya- CNN correspondent Larry Madowo has narrated a frightening encounter with security forces while covering a political rally by Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, saying the intensity of tear gas used was unlike anything he has experienced in recent years.
In a social media post shared on Saturday, Madowo said the rally was violently disrupted as security officers unleashed what he described as an unusually potent mix of tear gas, ahead of Uganda’s highly anticipated general elections.
“I’ve been tear-gassed a lot in the last two years, but Uganda’s mix was nasty!” Madowo wrote, reflecting on the incident.
The journalist, known for his frontline reporting from protests and politically charged environments across Africa, also shared raw video footage capturing the chaotic scenes. In the clip, clouds of tear gas engulf the area as demonstrators scatter, with Madowo heard struggling to report amid coughing and laboured breathing.
“Tear gas in all directions,” he says in the video, as the situation rapidly deteriorates.
Madowo noted that even some police officers stationed nearby appeared overwhelmed by the gas, underscoring its severity. The footage also shows a heavy deployment of security personnel, including police and military officers, forming a tight cordon around the rally venue.
“We only aired a portion in our Bobi Wine CNN story, but here’s the full clip and an extra angle,” he explained, noting that what viewers saw on television was only a fraction of what unfolded on the ground.
The rally was part of Bobi Wine’s mobilisation drive ahead of elections expected to be fiercely contested. The former musician-turned-politician has repeatedly accused Ugandan authorities of using excessive force to stifle opposition activities, claims the government has consistently denied. Officials often argue that such measures are necessary to maintain public order.
Madowo, who has covered protests and political unrest in Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and beyond, said that while tear gas exposure has become an occupational hazard in his line of work, the Ugandan incident stood out for its intensity.
Despite the ordeal, he continued reporting until conditions became unbearable, reinforcing his reputation for staying on the ground during volatile situations.
His experience comes amid growing international concern over the treatment of opposition groups and journalists in Uganda.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has previously warned of an escalating crackdown ahead of the elections, urging authorities to respect human rights and media freedom before, during and after the polls.
