In brief
Former Rwandan army sergeant major Robert Kabera, a popular YouTuber and outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame, was discovered beheaded on the outskirts of Kampala. He had fled Rwanda after being accused of sexual assault, citing political persecution. The killing adds to a series of violent incidents against Rwandan dissidents abroad, including the 2014 murder of former intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya in South Africa. His widow reported fearing for the safety of her family and their children. Ugandan police have not yet recovered the severed head, and there has been no official response from the Rwandan government.
Former Rwandan army sergeant major Robert Kabera , a popular YouTuber and singer who criticised President Paul Kagame, was found beheaded in neighbouring Uganda on the weekend of Monday.
Kabera, 50, fled Rwanda after accusations of sexual assault that he denied, claiming he had been targeted for political persecution. He sought asylum in Uganda and was living there at the time of his death.
Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the head had not yet been recovered. The body was found by local residents on the outskirts of Kampala. The Rwandan government has not publicly commented on the killing.
His widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, wrote to BBC Great Lakes that she now feared for her family's safety, saying, "It is scary. I feel crazy, the children and I don't have security."
Friends say Kabera had travelled to inspect a construction site about 45 km outside Kampala before his death. He had built a public profile as a musician and YouTuber, amassing over 144,000 subscribers and uploading more than 800 videos that often criticised Kagame and his administration.
His murder underscores continuing concerns over the safety of Rwandan dissidents living in exile. In 2014, former Rwandan intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya was found dead in a Johannesburg hotel, and in 2019 South Africa issued arrest warrants for two Rwandans accused of his murder.
