Rwandan critic Robert Kabera found beheaded in Uganda

Robert Kabera, a former Rwandan army sergeant major and prominent critic of President Paul Kagame, was found dead on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, over the weekend. According to the BBC, Kabera, 50, was discovered beheaded by local residents, with his head still missing as of Monday. Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed that the recovery of the head remained a key part of the ongoing investigation into the killing.

Kabera had fled Rwanda after facing allegations of sexual assault, which he denied, and subsequently sought asylum in Uganda, citing political persecution. Beyond his military background, he built a significant online presence as a musician and YouTuber. His channel, which featured over 800 videos, attracted more than 144,000 subscribers and frequently targeted Kagame’s administration. His family told the BBC that Kabera had traveled to inspect a construction site approximately 45 kilometers from Kampala shortly before his death.

The death has prompted reactions from exiled Rwandan opposition groups. The Rwanda National Congress (RNC) issued a statement on X calling for a thorough investigation to identify those responsible. The group noted that the loss of Kabera’s voice has left Rwandans in exile questioning their safety. Kabera’s widow, Jeanne d’Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, expressed her anxiety in a written message to BBC Great Lakes, stating that she and her children felt a lack of security following his death.

As of Monday, the Rwandan government had not publicly commented on the specific circumstances of Kabera’s death, according to Africanews and MyJoyOnline. The case has drawn comparisons to the 2014 death of Patrick Karegeya, a former intelligence chief who was found dead in Johannesburg, South Africa. Karegeya, who also helped establish the RNC, had been a vocal critic of Kagame before his death. In 2019, South African authorities issued arrest warrants for two Rwandans in connection with Karegeya’s murder, though the motive in Kabera’s case remains under scrutiny by Ugandan investigators.