By The EastAfrican

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A Ugandan lawmaker was on Friday evening shot dead near his home in Matugga, Wakiso District, some 16km northwest of the capital Kampala.

The Arua Municipality Member of Parliament, Ibrahim Abiriga, was in his car with his bodyguard when the two were gunned down.

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

Eye witnesses said they were killed at about 6:30pm local time by riders on boda boda.

Abiriga was famous for dressing in bright yellow –the ruling NRM party colour– and driving a similar coloured Volkswagen Beetle.

He was also one of the key proponents of the controversial amendment of the constitution which removed presidential age caps, that now allows President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, to seek re-election.

However, his participation in the amendment was interrupted by a court case after he was captured on camera peeing on a wall long a busy street lined with government offices in the Kampala. He was fined $11.

Uganda security officers at the crime scene in Matugga, Wakiso district on June 8, 2018. PHOTO | MONITOR | NMG

In his condolence message, President Museveni said he has asked the "security agencies to expeditiously find these killers".

Abiriga's death comes at a time when Uganda has seen a rise in crime mostly kidnappings and murder.