Political Terror: Exiled Rwandan Critic Found Decapitated in Uganda, Family Fears for Safety

Robert Kabera, a 50-year-old former Rwandan army sergeant major and an outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame, has been found beheaded in neighbouring Uganda. His body was discovered by local residents on the outskirts of Kampala over the weekend, with Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirming that Kabera's head had still not been recovered as of Monday. This incident has raised fresh concerns regarding the safety of Rwandan dissidents residing abroad.

Kabera had fled Rwanda after being accused of sexual assault, allegations he consistently denied, and subsequently sought asylum in Uganda, citing political persecution. He had built a significant public profile as a musician and YouTuber, attracting over 144,000 subscribers to his channel, which featured more than 800 videos, many of which were critical of President Kagame and his administration. According to his family, Kabera had travelled to inspect a construction site approximately 45 km (30 miles) outside Kampala shortly before his death.

The Rwandan government has not issued any public statement regarding Kabera's killing. His widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, expressed profound fear for her family's safety in a written message to BBC Great Lakes, stating, "It is scary. I feel crazy, the children and I don't have security."

The exiled opposition group Rwanda National Congress (RNC) reacted strongly to the news of Kabera's murder, calling for a thorough investigation and for those responsible to be brought to justice. In a statement on X, the RNC highlighted the deep concern among exiled Rwandans, asking, "Today, his family is grieving, his voice is gone, and Rwandans in exile are confronting a terrifying question: where can we be safe?"

Kabera's death revives chilling memories of other critics of President Kagame who have been killed both within Rwanda and abroad. Notably, in 2014, Patrick Karegeya, a former Rwandan intelligence chief and RNC co-founder, was found dead in a hotel room in Johannesburg, South Africa. Karegeya had fallen out with President Kagame, served an 18-month prison sentence for insubordination and desertion, and subsequently fled to South Africa in 2007, where he became a vocal critic of the government.

Following Karegeya's death, President Kagame made remarks that were widely interpreted as a warning to other 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." In 2019, South African authorities issued arrest warrants for two Rwandans accused of murdering Karegeya. The circumstances surrounding Kabera's beheading remain unclear, and the continued absence of his head adds to the gravity of the situation, intensifying concerns about the security of Rwandan government critics living in exile.