A former Rwandan army sergeant major who became a vocal critic of President Paul Kagame has been found beheaded in neighbouring Uganda, raising fresh concerns about the safety of Rwandan dissidents living in exile.
Robert Kabera, 50, was reportedly found dead on the outskirts of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, over the weekend. Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said on Monday that investigators had yet to recover the victim’s head.
According to his family, Kabera had travelled to inspect a construction site approximately 45 kilometres outside Kampala before his death. Authorities have not yet publicly established the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Kabera fled Rwanda after facing accusations of sexual assault, which he denied. He later sought asylum in Uganda, saying he feared political persecution in his home country.
His death has left his family fearing for their safety. His widow, Jeanne d’Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, told BBC Great Lakes in a written message that she and their children were now living in fear.
“It is scary. I feel crazy, the children and I don't have security,” she said.
The Rwandan government had not publicly commented on Kabera’s killing at the time of reporting.
Kabera had built a significant online following as a musician and YouTuber, attracting more than 144,000 subscribers to his channel. His platform featured over 800 videos, many of which criticised Kagame and his administration.
His murder has drawn condemnation from the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), an opposition movement operating in exile. The group called for a thorough investigation and urged authorities to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
In a statement shared on X, the RNC said Kabera’s death had left his family grieving and raised serious questions about the safety of Rwandans living outside their country.
“Today, his family is grieving, his voice is gone, and Rwandans in exile are confronting a terrifying question: where can we be safe?” the group said.
Kabera’s killing adds to a series of cases involving prominent Rwandan government critics who have died abroad, intensifying concerns among opposition figures and activists in exile.
One of the most notable cases involved Patrick Karegeya, a former Rwandan intelligence chief who helped establish the RNC.
Karegeya was found dead in a hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2014 after falling out with Kagame.
Karegeya had been arrested twice in Rwanda and served an 18-month prison sentence for insubordination and desertion. He later fled to South Africa in 2007, where he became a prominent critic of the Rwandan government.
Following Karegeya’s death, Kagame made remarks that were widely interpreted as a warning to his critics.
“Any person alive who may be plotting against Rwanda, whoever they are, will pay the price. Whoever it is, it is a matter of time,” Kagame said.
In 2019, South African authorities issued arrest warrants for two Rwandan nationals accused of Karegeya’s murder.
The killing of Kabera is likely to renew scrutiny of the security of Rwandan opposition figures abroad, as investigators work to establish who was responsible for his death and the motive behind the attack.
