Larry Madowo. Photo: Courtesy
CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo has drawn attention to online harassment facing journalists covering politically sensitive events in the region after sharing a threatening direct message he received while reporting from Uganda.
Madowo, a Kenyan journalist currently in Uganda to cover early electoral campaigns ahead of the country’s January 15, 2026 general elections, posted a screenshot of the message on his social media platforms.
The message, sent by a Ugandan woman, contained explicit sexual threats and hostile political remarks linked to Uganda’s electoral contest.
In his brief public response, Madowo wrote, “This escalated quickly,” before adding, “Which part should I be scared of?”
The comment highlighted both the severity of the message and the casual nature with which online abuse is sometimes dismissed or normalised.
The threatening message expressed strong support for Uganda’s long-serving president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and rejected opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Larry Madowo While Interviewing Opposition Candidate Bobi Wine. Photo: Courtesy
While political disagreement is common during election periods, the language used in the message went beyond criticism and included personal insults and threats of sexual violence.
For Kenyan audiences, the incident resonates with broader concerns about the safety of journalists covering elections across East Africa.
Kenyan reporters have previously faced online intimidation, threats, and harassment during high-stakes political moments, particularly during election cycles marked by polarised debate and heightened emotions.
Madowo, who has built a regional and international profile through his reporting for CNN, has frequently used social media to document both his work and the challenges journalists encounter in the field.