In brief
Robert Kabera, a former Rwandan army sergeant major who turned YouTube star, was discovered beheaded on the outskirts of Kampala. The incident follows his flight to Uganda after accusations of sexual assault that he denied, citing political persecution. Ugandan police confirmed the missing head and said the body still has not been recovered. This brutal killing adds to a pattern of threats against Rwandan dissidents abroad.
Former Rwandan Army Sergeant and Popular YouTuber Robert Kabera, 50, was found beheaded in the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, on Monday.
Kabera had fled Rwanda amid accusations of sexual assault, which he denied, and sought asylum in Uganda, claiming political persecution.
Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said that Kabera’s head had still not been recovered, and local residents uncovered the body over the weekend.
The Rwandan government has not publicly commented on the killing, but the death follows a troubling trend of violence against critics of President Paul Kagame both inside and outside Rwanda.
His widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, wrote to BBC Great Lakes that she now fears for her family's safety, stating, “It is scary. I feel crazy, the children and I don’t have security.”
Kabera was known for his music and over 800 YouTube videos, many of which criticised Kagame’s administration, amassing more than 144,000 subscribers.
The murder of Kabera underscores growing concerns for the security of Rwandan dissidents living in exile.
Historical cases include the death of former Rwandan intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya in Johannesburg in 2014, and the subsequent arrest warrants issued by South Africa in 2019 for individuals accused of his murder.
