Ibrahim Abiriga, a leading politician from Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, was on Friday shot dead alongside his bodyguard.
Abiriga, known for wearing all-yellow suits and driving around in a yellow VW Beetle was “assassinated this evening near his home in Kawanda,” north of the capital, Kampala, by “unknown assailants,” police chief Okoth Ochola tweeted.
Controversial Ugandan lawmaker, Ibrahim Abiriga shot dead alongside his bodyguard (photo)
The 62-year old lawmaker was also a key supporter of a reform bill adopted last December to scrap the presidential age limit of 75 years. The move was seen as a bid to pave the way for Museveni — who has been president since 1986 and is currently 73 — to seek a sixth term in power.
Museveni responded to the news of Abiriga’s murder on Twitter, saying: “I have received news about the senseless killing of Arua Municipality MP, Hon Ibrahim Abiriga, and his bodyguard on the city’s outskirts. I have tasked security agencies to expeditiously find these killers and the nation will be updated soon. May Hon Abiriga’s soul rests in peace.”
