Exiled Rwandan government critic Robert Kabera found beheaded in Uganda

A former Rwandan army sergeant major who became a vocal critic of President Paul Kagame has been found beheaded in neighbouring Uganda, raising fresh concerns about the safety of Rwandan dissidents living abroad.

Robert Kabera, 50, was discovered by local residents on the outskirts of Kampala over the weekend. Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said on Monday that his head had not yet been recovered.

Kabera had fled Rwanda and sought asylum in Uganda, citing political persecution. He had previously been accused of sexual assault, which he denied.

The Rwandan government has not publicly commented on his death, according to the supplied report. No details have been provided establishing who killed him or the motive behind the killing.

Family fears for their safety

Kabera's widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, told BBC Great Lakes in a written message that she feared for the safety of herself and their children.

"It is scary. I feel crazy, the children and I don't have security," she said.

According to his family, Kabera had travelled to inspect a construction site about 45km outside Kampala before his death.

Beyond his former military career, Kabera had built an online following as a musician and YouTuber. His channel had more than 144,000 subscribers and featured over 800 videos, many of which criticised Kagame and his administration.

The circumstances surrounding his killing remain unclear, and the supplied report does not identify any suspects.

Concerns over killings of Rwandan critics

Kabera's death has drawn attention to previous killings involving opponents of the Rwandan president who had left the country.

The exiled opposition group Rwanda National Congress (RNC) called for a thorough investigation and for those responsible to be brought to justice.

In a statement posted on X, the group said: "Today, his family is grieving, his voice is gone, and Rwandans in exile are confronting a terrifying question: where can we be safe?"

One prominent case involved Patrick Karegeya, a former Rwandan intelligence chief who helped establish the RNC.

Karegeya was found dead in a hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2014, after falling out with Kagame. He had been arrested twice in Rwanda and served an 18-month prison sentence for insubordination and desertion before fleeing to South Africa in 2007.

Following Karegeya's death, Kagame made remarks widely interpreted as a warning to his critics.

"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.

Investigation into Kabera's death

Ugandan authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances of Kabera's killing, although the supplied report does not provide details of the investigation's progress.

The recovery of his missing head, the identification of those responsible and the establishment of a motive remain key unanswered questions.

The case also raises wider concerns about the protection of political exiles and the safety of people who publicly criticise governments from outside their home countries.

There is currently no evidence in the supplied report linking the Rwandan government to Kabera's killing.