Exiled critic of Rwanda's president found beheaded in Uganda
Robert Kabera, an exiled critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, was found beheaded near Kampala, Uganda, the BBC and ChimpReports reported. Police said Monday his head has not been found and no suspects have been identified. Rwanda's government has not publicly commented.
Robert Kabera, a former Rwandan soldier turned musician and YouTuber who was a vocal critic of President Paul Kagame, was found beheaded in Uganda, the BBC and the Ugandan outlet ChimpReports reported.
His body was discovered in Luwala village in Mpigi District on October 17, ChimpReports reported. The BBC reported that local residents found it on the outskirts of Kampala over the weekend. Ugandan police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said Monday that the head still had not been recovered, the BBC reported.
Rusoke said police had not identified any suspects. "Whether we have any suspects? No, we don't have. Because if we had any suspects, I would have mentioned it here," he said, according to ChimpReports. A security team of police, military and intelligence officers is looking for Kabera's regular motorcycle-taxi rider, who reportedly disappeared after the killing, ChimpReports reported, citing a source. ChimpReports reported that investigators want to know whether the rider took part or helped the killers.
Kabera, 50, fled Rwanda and sought asylum in Uganda, citing political persecution, the BBC reported. He built a following as a musician and YouTuber, with more than 144,000 subscribers to a channel that featured many videos criticizing Kagame and his government, the BBC reported. He was known as "Sergeant Robert," ChimpReports reported.
On the evening of October 16, Kabera traveled to Luwala with his rider and later went to a nearby bar, ChimpReports reported, citing family members. His brother identified the body the next afternoon from a scar and shoes found nearby, ChimpReports reported. ChimpReports also reported that local leaders in Kampala had reported an attack on Kabera in 2023, in which men threatened to kill him.
The Rwandan government has not publicly commented, the BBC reported. His widow said she feared for her family's safety, the BBC reported. The exiled opposition group Rwanda National Congress called for a thorough investigation, the BBC reported. Several critics of Kagame have been killed in Rwanda and abroad, the BBC reported.
What we know: Kabera's beheaded body was found in Mpigi District, and police have named no suspects.
What we don't: Who killed Kabera and why, and where his motorcycle-taxi rider is.
Where outlets agree The BBC and ChimpReports report that Robert Kabera, an exiled critic of Kagame, was found beheaded and that Ugandan police have identified no suspects.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.