Rwandan dissident found beheaded near Kampala in Uganda
A former Rwandan army sergeant major and outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame has been found beheaded in neighbouring Uganda. Robert Kabera, 50, was discovered by local residents on the outskirts of Kampala over the weekend, according to Ugandan police. His head had not been recovered at the time of reporting, and the killing has prompted concern among exiled Rwandan dissidents.
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Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said on Monday that Kabera's body was found outside the capital. According to his family, he had travelled to inspect a construction site about 45 km (30 miles) from Kampala before his death. Kabera had fled Rwanda after being accused of sexual assault, which he denied, and later sought asylum in Uganda, saying he faced political persecution.
Kabera had built a public profile as a musician and YouTuber, with more than 144,000 subscribers and over 800 videos, many of them critical of Kagame and his administration. His widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, said in a written message that she feared for the safety of the family. She said: "It is scary.
I feel crazy, the children and I don't have security." The Rwandan government has not publicly commented on the killing. The case has renewed attention on the risks faced by Rwandan critics living abroad. Several opponents of Kagame have been killed in Rwanda and outside the country, and Kabera's death fits into that wider pattern of concern.
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For exiled dissidents, Uganda has often been seen as a place of relative safety, but this killing raises questions about how secure that protection is in practice. The incident also carries diplomatic significance because it involves a high-profile critic of Rwanda found dead in a neighbouring state. Cross-border political killings can deepen mistrust between governments and intensify fears among opposition figures in exile.
The fact that Kabera's head had not been recovered at the time of reporting may also complicate the investigation and any effort to establish the full circumstances of the death. What remains unclear is who killed Kabera and whether the attack was politically motivated. Ugandan police have not announced any arrests, and there has been no public response from Kigali.
The key next steps will be the recovery of further evidence, any identification of suspects, and whether the case leads to a wider inquiry into the safety of Rwandan dissidents in Uganda.
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