The key facts
- Robert Kabera, 50, was found decapitated on the outskirts of Kampala over the weekend; his head has not yet been found — Ugandan police
- Kabera fled Rwanda after sexual violence allegations, which he denied, and sought asylum citing political persecution
- The Rwandan government has not commented on the killing; the opposition RNC is demanding an investigation
Decapitated Body Found Near Kampala
Former senior sergeant of the Rwandan army Robert Kabera, who became one of the prominent critics of President Paul Kagame, has been found dead on the outskirts of Kampala. The body was discovered by local residents over the weekend; according to Ugandan police, the victim's head has still not been found. Police spokesperson Kituma Rusoke reported this on Monday. According to the family, before his death Kabera had gone to inspect a construction site about 45 km from Kampala.
Kabera's Fate: From the Army to YouTube
The 50-year-old Kabera fled Rwanda after sexual violence allegations, which he denied, and sought asylum in Uganda, citing political persecution. In exile he built a public career as a musician and video blogger: his YouTube channel, with more than 800 videos — many of them devoted to criticism of Kagame and his government — gathered over 144,000 subscribers.
Reaction of Family and Opposition
The victim's widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, told BBC Great Lakes in a written message that she fears for the family's safety: 'This is terrifying. I am going out of my mind, neither I nor my children have any safety.' The opposition group in exile, the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), called for a thorough investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable. In a statement on X, the organization wrote: 'Today his family mourns him, his voice is gone, and Rwandans in exile face a chilling question: where can we be safe?'
Context: Deaths of Kagame's Critics
The Rwandan government has not publicly commented on the killing. Several of Kagame's critics have already died both inside Rwanda and abroad. In 2014, Patrick Karegeya — former head of Rwandan intelligence and one of the founders of the RNC, who fled to South Africa in 2007 after two arrests and 18 months of detention for insubordination and desertion — was found dead in a hotel room in Johannesburg. After his death, Kagame uttered words that many interpreted as a warning to other critics: 'Any living person who may plot something against Rwanda, whoever they are, will pay the price. Whoever it is, it is a matter of time.' In 2019, South African authorities issued arrest warrants for two Rwandans accused of Karegeya's murder. Kabera's death has heightened concerns about the safety of Rwandan dissidents in exile.
Image source, Robert Kabera
Robert Kabera was a popular YouTuber and singer
