Hope, despair looms over Abiriga’s family

Gone. The caskets containing the remains of former Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga (left) and that of his brother Saidi Buga Kongo during the burial at Rhino Camp Sub-county on June 11. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI.

What you need to know:

  • By-election. The Electoral Commission has now set August 18 for a by-election to replace Abiriga as Arua Municipality MP.
  • During Abiriga’s burial, Gen Moses Ali, the deputy premier, told President Museveni and hundreds of mourners that Abiriga died before he could receive his package as a former rebel fighter under Uganda National Rescue Front One (UNRF I).

The family of the late Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga are unsure whether an undisclosed package that he was following up with State House will ever be delivered.

During Abiriga’s burial, Gen Moses Ali, the deputy premier, told President Museveni and hundreds of mourners that Abiriga died before he could receive his package as a former rebel fighter under Uganda National Rescue Front One (UNRF I).

“Before he died, the late asked me as his former chairman in UNRF I, what had become of our package. I told him that the money would be paid,” Gen Ali said.
He did not reveal how much Abiriga’s and other fighters’ were demanding.

Gen Moses Ali commanded the UNRF I rebel forces that fought against the Milton Obote II regime in the 1980s.
The rebel outfit later allied with Mr Museveni’s National Resistance Army.
MP Abiriga, 62, was gunned down at Kawanda, just outside Kampala, together with his younger brother Saidi Buga Kongo, who he had taken on as his bodyguard.

Buga had just returned from a peacekeeping mission in war-torn Somalia.
At the vigil and funeral of the late Abiriga, several pledges were made, leaving the family with hope, but also worried over the fate of the deceased’s children and widow.

Mr Salim Saleh Drasi, a young brother of Abiriga, said his key concern was with the undelivered compensations package for Abiriga.
“He has been following up his package as a former fighter of the defunct UNRF I, but I am not sure what is in the pipeline,” Mr Drasi said.

Mr Yusuf Taban, another brother of Abiriga, told this newspaper he prays President Museveni stands by his word and helps Abiriga’s family.
He said Abiriga was the sole bread winner in the family.
The same concerns were echoed by Haj Hakim Moli, an in-law to Abiriga.

He said the issue of compensation was dear to Abiriga and he used to frequently talk about it.
“Now that he is not there, we cannot be sure that we shall get it; may be through good people like General Moses Ali and his friend, the President,” Mr Moli said.

Museveni pledges

Family welfare. During Abiriga’s burial, President Museveni pledged to look after Abiriga’s widow, children, and his brother.
“We always look after orphans of our fighters. We will also build a classroom block at Rhino Camp Primary School and name it after Abiriga,” he said.

Museveni said as part of recognition, he would fund a clan micro-credit scheme and inject Shs50 million as start-up capital.
Abiriga legacy. He said he would also explore renovating Abiriga’s building at Anyafio in Arua Town.
But it remains unclear when the family will receive the pledges that were made before and during the burial.