TRAGIC: Arua Municipality MP, Abiriga, Bodyguard Shot Dead

Emerging reports indicate that Arua municipality Member of Parliament, Ibrahim Abiriga has been shot in Kawanda, Nabweru in Wakiso district.

It is reported that Abiriga was traveling in his yellow coloured Volkswagen Bettle together with his bodyguard when the two were shot dead by yet to be know assailants.

The incident happened at around 6pm on Friday evening. The NRM Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa confirmed the incident to Radio One.

A photo posted on Twitter shows two individuals with heads leaning on the vehicle’s blood stained dashboard. One of the figures, suspected to be Abiriga’s bodyguard, in the passenger seat is seen wearing an army uniform.

The vehicle appears to have rammed into a jackfruit tree, possibly following the shooting of the driver, damaging its bonnet.

Abiriga, a civil servant and soldier became prominent during last year’s controversial amendment of the Constitution to repeal the Presidential Age Limit.

His signature yellow coloured attire and car, as well as his enthusiastic support of the ruling NRM party (whose color is yellow) earned him quick popularity.

Earlier on, in 2001, Abiriga had beem appointed by President Museveni as RDC for Arua which position he served for 12 years. He was later transferred to Yumbe still as RDC.

He first served in the army of then-Ugandan President Idi Amin Dada at the rank of Staff Sergeant until he was promoted to the rank of Major under NRA and finally colonel in now UPDF.