Ugandan authorities are investigating the death of Robert Kabera, a former Rwandan soldier and critic of his home country’s government, whose body was discovered decapitated in a village near Kampala. The case was confirmed by a police spokesperson on Monday, Oct. 20.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke told reporters that law enforcement was investigating the “murder of a male adult (around 50), whose head was cut off, and up to now, the head has not yet been recovered.” Rusoke added that the body, found in the village of Luwala, was identified by relatives. Officials believe the death occurred late on Oct. 16 or in the early hours of Oct. 17.
Kabera, who lived in Uganda after leaving Rwanda several years ago, was a former sergeant in the Rwandan military. He operated a YouTube channel titled “Major Robert TV,” which had approximately 144,000 subscribers. On the channel, Kabera published content critical of Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s government, including a song that praised opposition figure Victoire Ingabire.
In an interview with the AFP news agency, Kabera’s brother, Victor Agaba, said, “Robert had no issues with anyone” in Uganda. He attributed the conflict to matters in Rwanda, stating, “Our problem comes from home… The army created a criminal case against him. It was a witch-hunt.”
According to reports, Rwandan authorities had declared Kabera a fugitive, accusing him of corrupting a minor. Kabera had publicly denied these charges.
Kabera’s death occurs in the context of other deaths and attacks on Rwandan opposition figures living abroad. In 2021, Revocat Karemangingo, a former lieutenant in the Rwandan army, was shot and killed in Mozambique. That same year, opposition member Seif Bamporiki was shot dead in South Africa. In 2014, Patrick Karegeya, a former Rwandan intelligence chief turned government critic, was found strangled in a Johannesburg hotel room. Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, a former general who co-founded the Rwanda National Congress opposition party, has survived multiple assassination attempts in South Africa.
The Rwandan government has previously denied involvement in the deaths of its opponents abroad.
Ugandan police have not named any suspects or motives in Kabera’s death. The investigation remains ongoing.
