A former Rwandan military officer who became a vocal critic of President Paul Kagame has been found beheaded in Uganda, prompting concerns over the safety of political dissidents living in exile, AFP reported. Robert Kabera, 50, was discovered dead on the outskirts of Kampala after reportedly travelling to inspect a construction site about 45 kilometres from the Ugandan capital.
Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said on Monday that Kabera's head had not been recovered, and authorities have not publicly disclosed further details about the circumstances of his death or announced any arrests. Investigators believe he may have been killed late on October 16 or early on October 17. His body was discovered by residents in a eucalyptus plantation in Luwala village, Mpigi district, according to Uganda's Daily Monitor.
Kabera, a former sergeant major in the Rwandan military, had left Rwanda after facing allegations of sexual assault, which he denied, and sought asylum in Uganda citing fears of political persecution. He later gained prominence as a musician and YouTube personality, building an audience of more than 144,000 subscribers on his Major Robert TV channel, which featured hundreds of videos criticising Kagame and his administration, AFP reported.
His widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, told BBC Great Lakes in a written message that she feared for her safety and that of their children. The Associated Press reported that Kabera's brother said he had no known problems in Uganda, suggesting the killing was linked to Rwanda. The death echoes previous cases, including the 2014 killing of former Rwandan intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya in South Africa, and has renewed fears among Rwandan exiles. The Rwandan government had not publicly commented.
Kabera had been declared a fugitive by Rwandan authorities and accused of corrupting a minor, charges he denied, while his brother Victor Agaba told AFP the case was a politically motivated witch hunt. The killing adds to a series of attacks on Rwandan opposition figures living abroad: in 2021, former army lieutenant Revocant Karemangingo was shot dead in Mozambique and critic Seif Bamporiki was killed in South Africa. Ugandan police have not established any link between Kabera's political activities and his killing, and the investigation remains ongoing.