One of the most unusual and visually striking moments in Uganda’s political history unfolded on this day in 2011 when the Uganda Police Force deployed water cannons filled with bright pink dye to disperse opposition supporters during the height of the “Walk to Work” protests in Kampala.
The demonstrations, led by opposition figures including Kizza Besigye, had erupted over rising fuel and food prices and quickly evolved into a major political challenge for the government.
Tensions were already high following violent clashes in previous weeks, including Besigye’s arrest on April 28, 2011, when police smashed the windows of his vehicle and pepper-sprayed him at close range.
On May 10, opposition leaders and supporters attempted to march toward Constitution Square in central Kampala.
Police responded with tear gas, arrests and a new tactic that immediately captured national attention: water cannons loaded with a vivid magenta-coloured dye.
Authorities said the coloured liquid was intended to act as a tagging mechanism, allowing security personnel to later identify and arrest protesters after crowds had dispersed.
Images from the day showed leading opposition figures including Olara Otunnu, Sam Lubega, Salaamu Musumba and Asuman Basalirwa drenched head to toe in pink liquid, alongside stained vehicles and roads across Kampala.
The dramatic scenes quickly spread across television broadcasts, newspapers and social media platforms, turning the “pink water” into one of the defining images of Uganda’s 2011 political unrest.
The tactic attracted criticism, ridicule and concern in equal measure. Some protesters claimed the liquid caused skin irritation and eye discomfort, raising questions about whether it contained chemicals beyond ordinary dye.
The crackdown came just two days before Yoweri Museveni was due to be sworn in for another presidential term on May 12, 2011. Authorities were under pressure to prevent further unrest in Kampala ahead of the inauguration ceremony.
Although coloured water cannons have been used in other parts of the world, the May 10 pink dye incident remains one of the most memorable episodes in Uganda’s history of public demonstrations.
