The verdict was announced on Wednesday by the Prosecutor General's Office. The charges against the teenager included attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms.
Prosecutors clarified that the case could not be reclassified as homicide, despite Senator Uribe's death, because Colombian law prohibits modifying charges once a minor has formally accepted them.
The attack took place in June during a campaign rally in a working-class neighbourhood of Bogotá. Senator Uribe was shot in the head while addressing supporters. The horrifying moment, captured on video, left the country stunned.
Immediately after the shooting, the young gunman was detained at the scene, alongside five adults who were also arrested and face ongoing investigations into possible involvement.
Following the attack, Senator Uribe underwent multiple surgeries and remained in intensive care for nearly two months. Despite the best efforts of medical teams, he succumbed to a cerebral haemorrhage on August 11. His death triggered an outpouring of grief and calls for stronger protections for political figures in Colombia.
Miguel Uribe Turbay, aged 37, was a rising political star and one of the country's most prominent opposition voices. Known for his tough stance on crime and corruption, he had been gaining significant popularity ahead of next year's presidential elections.
His assassination attempt, and eventual death, drew immediate comparisons to Colombia's dark history of political violence in the 1980s and 1990s, when several presidential hopefuls, including Luis Carlos Galán and Bernardo Jaramillo, were gunned down during election campaigns.
The sentencing of the teenage shooter has raised debates across Colombia about youth involvement in organised crime and political violence. Legal experts note that under Colombian law, minors cannot face the same sentencing standards as adults, even in cases of grave crimes. Critics argue this leaves a gap in accountability when children are used to carry out politically motivated attacks.
Authorities are continuing to investigate who may have orchestrated the plot against Uribe. The five adults arrested alongside the shooter are expected to face trial on charges that could include conspiracy and complicity in terrorism.
Officials have not ruled out the possibility that criminal groups or political actors may have been behind the assault.
The killing has cast a long shadow over Colombia's upcoming elections, raising fresh concerns about the safety of candidates and the fragility of the country's democratic process.
Political leaders from across the spectrum condemned the attack, with President Gustavo Petro calling it 'a blow against democracy and national stability.' Vigils and demonstrations honouring Uribe have since been held across Bogotá and other cities, reflecting both sorrow and public anger.
For many Colombians, the tragedy is a reminder that while the country has made strides toward peace following decades of armed conflict, the risks of political violence remain dangerously present.
The sentencing of the teenage shooter brings a measure of judicial closure, but for Uribe's supporters and the broader public, deep questions remain about accountability, security, and the future of democratic politics in Colombia.
Rania Umutoni
