CNN Africa correspondent Larry Madowo says he was tear-gassed while covering Uganda’s heated election campaigns, describing the incident as one of the most severe he has experienced in recent years.
In a statement shared online, the Kenyan journalist said he has been exposed to tear gas several times over the past two years, but what he encountered in Uganda stood out.
“I’ve been teargassed a lot in the last two years but Uganda’s chemical was nasty,” Madowo said, adding that even police officers near him were affected.
Madowo, who is currently in Uganda on assignment, was reporting from the field as security forces moved in during campaign activities.
He pointed to the heavy presence of armed security officers at the scene, noting that journalists and law enforcement officers were caught up in the same exposure.
According to Madowo, the intensity of the tear gas made it difficult to continue reporting as planned.
He said officers standing close to him were also struggling, underscoring the severity of the chemical agents used during the operation.
The CNN correspondent revealed that only a portion of the incident was aired on television.
He later shared the full clip, along with an additional camera angle, to show the broader context of what unfolded on the ground.
Uganda’s election campaigns have frequently drawn scrutiny from local and international observers over the conduct of security agencies and the environment in which journalists operate.
Media freedom groups have previously raised concerns about the safety of reporters covering political events in the country.
Madowo’s experience adds to growing attention on the risks faced by journalists reporting on elections in the region, particularly during tense campaign periods marked by a strong security presence