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.
Robert Kabera, 50, was discovered dead on the outskirts of Kampala over the weekend 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. Authorities have not publicly disclosed further details about the circumstances of his death or announced any arrests in connection with the killing.
Kabera, a former sergeant major in the Rwandan military, had left Rwanda after facing allegations of sexual assault, which he denied. He subsequently 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. His channel featured hundreds of videos, many of which criticised Kagame and his administration.
His death has raised fresh concerns about the security of Rwandan government critics living outside the country.
Kabera’s 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 following the killing.
The Rwandan government had not publicly commented on the incident at the time of reporting.
The killing has also drawn attention to previous cases involving Rwandan dissidents abroad. In 2014, Patrick Karegeya, a former Rwandan intelligence chief who helped establish an opposition party, was found dead in a hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa.
South African authorities issued arrest warrants in 2019 for two Rwandan nationals accused of Karegeya’s murder.
Investigations into Kabera’s death remain ongoing, and no individual has been publicly identified as responsible for the killing.
