In brief
Former Rwandan army sergeant‑major Robert Kabera, a popular YouTuber and singer who had turned into an outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame, was discovered beheaded near Kampala. His body was found by locals while he was traveling to inspect a construction site about 45 km from the capital, and police say his head has yet to be recovered. The killings of dissidents inside and outside Rwanda—such as the 2014 murder of former intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya—suggest a pattern of targeted violence. Kabera’s widow fears for her family’s safety, and international human‑rights monitors warn that the death signals a new era of repression for exiled Rwandan opponents.
Former Rwandan army sergeant‑major Robert Kabera, a popular YouTuber and singer known for his attacks on President Paul Kagame, was discovered beheaded on the outskirts of Kampala on Sunday. He fled Rwanda last year after facing a trial for alleged sexual assault, which he denied, and sought asylum in neighbouring Uganda, claiming political persecution.
Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed that Kabera’s head had not been recovered. Police said locals found the body while traveling to inspect a construction site about 45 km (30 mi) from the capital.
Both the Rwandan government and Ugandan authorities have yet to issue statements. The death follows a disturbing trend of killings that have targeted Rwandan dissidents inside and outside the country—including the 2014 murder of former intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya in Johannesburg, and the 2019 arrest warrants issued by South Africa for Rwandan nationals accused of his killing.
Kabera built a dedicated online following, with more than 144,000 subscribers and over 800 videos. His critics, including those on his channel, said that the regime had been laughing at them. His widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, told BBC Great Lakes that It is scary. I feel crazy, the children and I don't have security, expressing shattered hopes for safety.
International human‑rights monitors fear that Kabera’s disappearance signals a new period of targeted violence against those who challenge the Kagame administration, raising urgent calls for protection for Rwandan refugees across Africa.
