Parliament mourns MP Abriga

Parliament Friday mourned the death of Arua Municipality MP, Ibrahim Abiriga who was shot dead by at Kawanda on Bombo Road on his way home.

Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Mr Chris Obore said that Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has learnt of the death of Abiriga and his bodyguard who were waylaid on Friday evening.

“The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, has learnt about the brutal killing of Arua Municipality MP Hon Ibrahim Abiriga who was gunned down this evening near his home at Kawanda. Ms Kadaga sends her condolences to the family, the people of Arua and the country,” Mr Obore quoted the speaker in a statement. “ The Speaker urged the security forces to do everything possible to get the killers and reassure the country.”
Mr Obore said that Parliament will discuss with the family about the burial arrangements since Abiriga has been a Muslim.

Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima confirmed Abiriga’s death while speaking to Daily Monitor on phone on Friday. Mr Kayima did not give details about the incident but said a team of detectives was in Matugga to start investigations.

Eye witnesses said that the MP was shot at about 6:30pm.
The leader of Opposition in Parliament, Ms Winfred Kiiza has also sent her condolences to the people of Arua Municipality
Ms Kiiza said Abiriga will be missed around Parliament because despite being a man of few words has been a morale boaster to others.

“I say sorry to the people of Arua Municipality and Uganda at large. He has been a man of few words and a morale boaster for us at Parliament. I wonder why one would target Abriga to kill him because as far as I know, he had no grudges against anyone,” Ms Kiiza said.

She said: “it is unfortunate that Hon Abiriga has died the way it has happened but we appeal to the security agencies to wake-up and save this country from such kind of murders.”

The UPDF spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire described the killing of Abiriga as a cowardly act.
“We condemn this act in the strongest terms. We shall continue to work together with other security agencies so that we guarantee peace and security,” he said.

He said UPDF commiserates with the “family of the deceased and the patriotic Ugandans”.
Abiriga has been known for his dressing code that is fanatic to the ruling National Resistance Movement by donning all yellow to express his endless support to the party.

He was also among the initiators of the move to amend the Constitution to remove Article 102b to have the 75 year upper age limit for the president removed.

However, his participation in ensuring that the age limit is removed was interrupted by a court case in which he was accused of urinating in public near the Ministry of Finance head offices in Kampala.
Abiriga would later be fined Shs40, 000 by City Hall Court for being a public nuisance.