Exiled Critic of Rwandan President Found Beheaded in Uganda

Robert Kabera, a former Rwandan army sergeant major who had become an outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame, was found beheaded in neighboring Uganda. Kabera, 50, had fled Rwanda after being accused of sexual assault, charges he denied, and sought asylum in Uganda, citing political persecution.

Ugandan police confirmed that Kabera's head had not yet been recovered. His body was discovered by local residents over the weekend on the outskirts of Kampala. The Rwandan government has not issued a public comment on the killing. Kabera's death adds to existing concerns regarding the safety of Rwandan dissidents living in exile.

His widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, expressed fear for her family's safety, stating, "It is scary. I feel crazy, the children and I don't have security."

According to his family, Kabera had been traveling to inspect a construction site approximately 45 kilometers (30 miles) outside of Kampala at the time of his death. Kabera had established a public profile as a musician and YouTuber, amassing over 144,000 subscribers on his channel, where he posted more than 800 videos, many of which criticized Kagame and his administration.

This incident echoes previous cases involving critics of the Rwandan government. In 2014, Patrick Karegeya, a former Rwandan intelligence chief and opposition party founder, was found dead in a hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2019, South Africa issued arrest warrants for two Rwandans in connection with his murder.