A Rwandan dissident and former army officer was found beheaded in neighbouring Uganda, police said on Monday.The remains of Sergeant Major Robert Kabera, who served in the Rwandan army before fleeing to Uganda in 2020, were discovered on Saturday in a bush in the Kamengo area of Mpigi district, outside the capital, Kampala, Superintendent of Police Lydia Tumushabe told The Associated Press.“The head, up to now, is still missing. Kabera’s body was identified by residents as well as his brother,” Tumushabe said, adding that detectives had yet to establish a clear motive for the killing.According to Uganda’s National Police spokesperson, Rusoke Kituuma, Kabera’s previous service in the Rwandan military had been brought to the attention of investigators.“There are those who allege that he was previously a serving soldier,” Kituuma told reporters. “Whatever. All that we shall establish in the course of investigations.”
Who was Robert Kabera
As a soldier, Kabera was a well-known figure in Rwanda, and performed with the Army Jazz Band, according to a 2008 profile published by the local newspaper The New Times.After he fled to Uganda, the Rwandan military launched an investigation into allegations that he had engaged in “unlawful sexual contact” with a family member. Kabera told some Ugandan media outlets that he had fled Rwanda to escape “persecution.”His YouTube channel, Major Robert TV, had more than 140,000 followers and featured over 800 videos. His commentary was viewed by some Rwandans as damaging to the image of the Rwandan government.Rwandan authorities had not immediately commented on Kabera’s death.
Spotlight on Rwandan President Paul Kagame
Rwanda’s government denies targeting political opponents, despite allegations from critics of President Paul Kagame that his “authoritarian stance” leaves little room for dissent. Several senior military officers have fallen out with Kagame, with some fleeing into exile over fears for their lives, while others have died in prison.Kagame is credited with rebuilding Rwanda after the devastation of the 1994 genocide. However, his government continues to face criticism from human rights groups over alleged widespread abuses, restrictions on independent media and the suppression of political opposition. Kagame has denied these allegations.