“It Felt Like the End”: Larry Madowo’s Story of Uganda’s Tear Gas

CNN International Correspondent Larry Madowo has detailed his harrowing experience after being targeted by tear gas while covering political rallies in Uganda.

The journalist was in the country reporting on the campaigns of presidential candidate Bobi Wine ahead of Uganda's general elections slated for January 2026.

Madowo confirmed that the police operation involved heavy-handed tactics, including the use of tear gas and whips against supporters of Bobi Wine.

The scenes quickly turned chaotic.

Enduring the 'Nasty' Chemical

Madowo’s experience in Uganda exposed him to what he described as a particularly harmful chemical agent. The severity of the substance was starkly apparent.

The journalist revealed that he felt close to death during the incident.

“Let me tell you, Maina, I thought I was dying!”

Crucially, Madowo noted that the police officers themselves were suffering from the gas. Even the security forces standing near him were clearly impacted by the chemical deployed.

“Even policemen were suffering next to me,” Madowo said.

Comparing the Chemicals

Madowo is familiar with tear gas, having been exposed numerous times while reporting across Africa. He mentioned that he had been teargassed frequently over the past two years.

However, the chemical deployed by the Ugandan police forces proved to be far more potent. Madowo explicitly stated that the Ugandan chemical was nasty.

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“I've been teargassed a lot in the last 2 years, but Uganda's chemical was nasty!”

The fact that even policemen standing next to him were suffering demonstrates the indiscriminate and strong nature of the chemical used in Uganda.

A Campaign Trail in Chaos

The rallies held by the opposition leader frequently descend into disorder. Before Bobi Wine had even arrived at one recent event, tear gas was already being deployed.

Madowo reported hearing what sounded like live shots while tear gas spread in every direction. The constant unrest has made covering the political landscape challenging.

"That was tear gas in every direction," he said amid coughs.

The security forces were observed surrounding the correspondents, creating an intimidating atmosphere. The intense measures used by the police have become a common sight at Bobi Wine’s gatherings.

Madowo revealed that due to the severe condition caused by the teargas, they only managed to air a portion of the chaos they witnessed during the live coverage.

Madowo's reporting painted a clear picture of the dangerous conditions faced by anyone attempting to cover the high-stakes political campaigning in Uganda.