June 8 marks the anniversary of one of Uganda's most shocking political assassinations, the killing of Arua Municipality MP Colonel Ibrahim Abiriga, a colourful and controversial figure whose trademark yellow outfits made him one of the country's most recognisable politicians.
Born on June 5, 1956, Abiriga built a long career in public service before entering Parliament.
He served in Uganda's military across different periods of the country's history, including under Idi Amin, before later joining the National Resistance Army and eventually the Uganda People's Defence Forces, where he rose to the rank of colonel.
He later spent more than a decade as Resident District Commissioner for Arua District before moving into elective politics.
Abiriga became nationally known for his unwavering loyalty to the ruling National Resistance Movement.
Rarely seen without his signature yellow clothing, yellow accessories and yellow Volkswagen Beetle, he turned political branding into a personal identity. He was also among the strongest supporters of the 2017 constitutional amendment that removed the presidential age limit, a position that placed him at the centre of heated national debate.
On the evening of June 8, 2018, at about 6:30pm, Abiriga's life came to a violent end.
As his famous yellow Beetle approached his home in Kirinyabigo, Kawanda, in Wakiso District, gunmen riding on a boda boda opened fire on the vehicle. Abiriga and his brother and bodyguard, Said Butele Kongo, were killed instantly.
The attackers escaped, leaving behind a crime scene that stunned the nation and intensified concerns over a series of high-profile assassinations that had rocked Uganda during that period.
The killing triggered a major police investigation, with detectives pursuing several leads in the weeks and months that followed. However, progress quickly stalled. A mobile phone recovered at the scene initially appeared to offer a breakthrough, but investigators later cleared its owner of any involvement.
Ballistic reports, witness statements and other forensic evidence failed to produce arrests that could stand in court.
Today, the murder remains unsolved. No suspects have been successfully prosecuted or convicted for the assassination. The continued lack of answers has fuelled public speculation and frustration, particularly among family members who have repeatedly called for justice.
In 2025, Abiriga's widow, Amina Abiriga, publicly appealed for a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni, saying several promises made to the family and community during the MP's burial had yet to be fulfilled.