A former soldier turned critic of Rwanda's president was found beheaded in Uganda. Officials have not yet identified the perpetrator or found his head yet, and continue the investigation.
Foreign news agencies reported on 19 Oct 2026 GMT+7 that Robert Kabera, a 50-year-old former Rwandan sergeant known for his outspoken criticism of President Paul Kagame, was found beheaded in neighboring Uganda.
Kabera fled Rwanda to Uganda after being accused of sexual assault. He denied the allegations and claimed they were politically motivated harassment.
Ugandan police spokesperson Gituma Rusoke said on Monday that Kabera’s body was found on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala, over the past weekend. His head has not yet been recovered.
In recent years, several critics opposing Rwanda’s president have been killed both inside and outside the country. However, the Rwandan government has not commented on Kabera’s murder.
Kabera’s widow, Sean Dark Rwigema, told BBC she is worried about her family’s safety. “It’s terrifying. I feel like I’m losing my mind. My children and I have no security at all,” she said.
Kabera’s family revealed that before his death, he traveled to inspect a construction site about 45 kilometers from Kampala.
Kabera was known as a musician and YouTuber with over 144,000 subscribers and more than 800 videos, mostly criticizing Kagame and his government.
The exiled opposition group, Rwanda National Congress (RNC), called for a thorough investigation into Kabera’s murder and urged that those responsible be brought to justice.
“Today his family mourns, his voice has been silenced, and Rwandan refugees face the frightening question: Where can we be safe?” the RNC said in a statement on platform X.
Kabera’s death heightens concerns about the safety of dissident Rwandans living abroad. In 2014, Patrick Karegeya, former head of Rwandan intelligence and RNC co-founder, was found dead in a hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Karegeya had conflicts with President Kagame and was imprisoned twice, serving 18 months for insubordination and dereliction of duty, before fleeing to South Africa in 2007 and openly criticizing the government.
After Karegeya’s death, President Kagame warned, “Anyone still alive who may be plotting against Rwanda, whoever they are, will pay the price. It’s just a matter of time.”
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Source:bbc