Rwandan Kagame critic Robert Kabera found beheaded in Uganda

A former Rwandan soldier and prominent critic of President Paul Kagame was found beheaded in Uganda, sparking renewed concerns about the safety of Rwandan opposition figures living abroad. Robert Kabera, 50, was discovered on the outskirts of Kampala over the weekend. Ugandan police confirmed on Monday that his head had not yet been recovered. Kabera, a former army sergeant major, fled Rwanda after being accused of sexual assault, which he denied. He later sought asylum in Uganda, citing political persecution. According to his family, he had traveled to inspect a construction site approximately 45 kilometers from Kampala before his death. Kabera gained attention beyond his activism through his work as a musician and YouTuber. His YouTube channel, "Major Robert TV," attracted over 144,000 subscribers. He frequently posted videos criticizing Kagame's government. His wife, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, expressed fear for her family's safety following the incident. She stated she felt unsafe and worried about the well-being of her children. The Rwanda National Congress (RNC), an exiled opposition group, called for a full investigation into Kabera's death. They warned that the killing has intensified fears among Rwandans living overseas. This case resembles the 2014 assassination of Patrick Karegeya, a former Rwandan intelligence chief who became an outspoken critic of Kagame. Karegeya was found dead in a hotel in South Africa, and his death led to widespread speculation about the targeting of dissidents. The Rwandan government has not officially commented on Kabera's death. Ugandan police continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing. Kabera's brother, Victor Agaba, told AFP that the accusations against his sibling were unfounded. He described them as a "witch-hunt" orchestrated by the Rwandan military. Kabera was declared a fugitive after leaving Rwanda and faced charges of corrupting a minor, which he denied. This incident adds to a pattern of violence against Rwandan dissidents abroad. In 2021, Revocat Karemangingo, a former lieutenant in the Rwandan army, was shot dead in Mozambique. That same year, Seif Bamporiki, another outspoken critic, was killed in South Africa. Patrick Karegeya's murder in 2014 further highlighted the risks faced by those opposing Kagame's regime. Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, a former general who co-founded the RNC with Karegeya, continues to live in exile. He has survived multiple attempts on his life. The deaths of these individuals raise questions about the security of Rwandan opposition figures living outside the country. Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke stated that the body was found in Luwala, a village near Kampala, and the killing likely occurred late on October 16 or early on October 17. The investigation into Kabera's death is ongoing.