Exiled Rwandan dissident Robert Kabera, 50, is found decapitated near Kampala as his widow fears for her family’s safety
A former Rwandan army sergeant major turned outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame has been found beheaded in neighbouring Uganda, raising fresh fears over the safety of Rwandan dissidents living in exile.
Robert Kabera, 50, was discovered dead on the outskirts of Kampala over the weekend, with his head still missing, Ugandan police said.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed on Monday that the missing head had not been recovered.
Kabera’s widow, Jeanne d’Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, said she feared for her family’s safety following the killing.
‘It is scary. I feel crazy, the children and I don’t have security,’ she told BBC Great Lakes in a written message.
According to his family, Kabera had travelled to inspect a construction site about 45km (30 miles) outside Kampala before his death.
He fled Rwanda after being accused of sexual assault, which he denied, and sought asylum in Uganda, citing political persecution.
Kabera had built a following of more than 144,000 subscribers on YouTube, where he posted music and hundreds of videos, many criticising Kagame and his administration.
The Rwandan government has not publicly commented on his killing.
Exiled opposition group Rwanda National Congress (RNC) called for a thorough investigation and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
‘Today, his family is grieving, his voice is gone, and Rwandans in exile are confronting a terrifying question: where can we be safe?’ the group said in a statement on X.
The killing has revived memories of Patrick Karegeya, a former Rwandan intelligence chief and RNC co-founder who was found dead in a Johannesburg hotel room in 2014 after falling out with Kagame and fleeing Rwanda.
Karegeya had served an 18-month prison sentence for insubordination and desertion before leaving the country in 2007 and becoming a vocal critic of the government.
After his death, Kagame issued a warning widely interpreted as being directed at his opponents.
‘Any person alive who may be plotting against Rwanda, whoever they are, will pay the price. Whoever it is, it is a matter of time,’ he said.
In 2019, South African authorities issued arrest warrants for two Rwandans accused of murdering Karegeya.
Kabera’s death adds to concerns about the safety of Rwandan government critics abroad. The circumstances of his killing remain unclear, and police have yet to recover his head.