KAMPALA — The mutilated body of Robert Kabera, a former Rwandan military official turned vocal opponent of the Kigali administration, was discovered over the weekend on the periphery of the Ugandan capital, according to local authorities.
Kabera, 50, formerly a sergeant major in the Rwandan army, had sought refuge in Uganda after leaving his home country. Relatives reported that he had departed to visit a building project located roughly 45 kilometers outside Kampala prior to the gruesome discovery made by residents.
Kituuma Rusoke, a spokesperson for the Ugandan police force, confirmed the homicide on Monday, noting that investigators had not yet located the victim's severed head. The government in Kigali has not issued any public statements regarding the incident.
Before his death, Kabera cultivated a substantial digital footprint as both a musical artist and a prominent online commentator. His YouTube channel amassed upward of 144,000 subscribers and featured a vast library of video content frequently targeting President Paul Kagame and his ruling cabinet.
Following his departure from Rwanda, Kabera maintained that allegations of sexual assault leveled against him were politically motivated fabrications designed to silence his dissent. His widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, expressed deep apprehension regarding the safety of her household in the wake of the tragedy. In a message shared with journalists, she stated that she and her children no longer felt secure, describing the situation as terrifying.
The Rwanda National Congress, an opposition group operating outside the country, issued a formal statement demanding a comprehensive inquiry to bring the perpetrators to account. The organization posted a message on social media highlighting the grief of the family and the broader anxiety felt by Rwandan exiles questioning their safety abroad.
This killing renews international scrutiny regarding the security of political dissidents from Rwanda residing in foreign nations. A notable precedent occurred in 2014 when Patrick Karegeya, a former head of Rwandan intelligence who became a fierce adversary of the government, was found slain inside a hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. South African law enforcement subsequently pursued suspects linked to that case, while President Kagame later delivered remarks warning individuals working against the state that they would eventually face consequences.
Authorities in Uganda are continuing their inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Kabera's death. The incident has intensified anxiety within the diaspora community regarding the physical risks faced by those who openly challenge the Rwandan government from abroad.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
