As of 7:55 AM IST, Saturday 24 October 2026. No one has been charged, post-mortem results have not been published, and accounts of the investigation differ. Disputed details are flagged below.
Ugandan police are investigating the killing of Robert Kabera, a 50-year-old former Rwandan army sergeant-major turned exiled singer and outspoken critic of Rwanda's President Paul Kagame. His beheaded body was found on 17 October 2026 near Kampala. On 22 October, Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Uganda to ensure an impartial investigation, noting that Kabera had repeatedly warned that he was being hunted. Rwanda's government has not publicly commented on the killing.
Who was Robert Kabera?
- Soldier and musician. Kabera served in the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), reaching the rank of sergeant-major, and was a soloist with the army's jazz band.
- Exile. He fled to Uganda in November 2020 and was granted asylum on grounds of political persecution, according to HRW.
- Online critic. His YouTube channel had more than 144,000 subscribers and over 800 videos, many of them criticising Kagame's government. His final video was titled "Kill Us if You Want", the BBC reported.
- Accusation in Rwanda. In November 2020 the RDF announced an investigation against him over a sexual offence allegation. Kabera denied it and said it was politically motivated.
What was found
Kabera's body was found on 17 October in a eucalyptus plantation in Luwala village, Kammengo sub-county, Mpigi District, about 45 km (28 miles) from Kampala, where he had been building a house. His head has not been recovered. Police believe he was killed on the night of 16 October or early on 17 October. His funeral was held in Kammengo on 21 October.
A forensic expert who reviewed photographs for HRW said the mutilation was probably done after death and that his hands appeared to have been tied. HorizonDesk notes that this is an outside assessment and that the official post-mortem findings are still pending.
The investigation so far
Uganda Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said a murder case had been registered. On 20 October he said there were no suspects yet. Accounts of possible leads differ:
| Source | Account | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda Police (20 Oct) | No suspects identified; investigation ongoing | Official |
| ChimpReports, citing security officials | A motorcycle-taxi (boda boda) rider known as "Innocent" listed as a suspect | Unconfirmed; conflicts with police statement |
| A relative, speaking to HRW | A Kinyarwanda-speaking man claiming to be a fellow government opponent travelled with Kabera on 16 Oct and gave a false phone number | Unverified account |
Rusoke also cautioned against portraying Uganda as unsafe for refugees, the Daily Monitor reported. Uganda hosts one of Africa's largest refugee populations.
Years of warnings
HRW says it documented a series of threats against Kabera:
- May 2022: he was arrested in Uganda and said he was beaten. The case was later closed.
- July 2022: he reported being attacked.
- September 2022: he told HRW: "They will kill me. They know where I am … I will die before I get resettled."
- May 2023: a letter from Uganda's police chief, seen by HRW, confirmed his refugee status, ordered extra security, and said he was in the final stages of resettlement to a third country.
- October 2023: he reported another attack, in which an assailant allegedly said, "even if you go to America we will find you and kill you".
HorizonDesk has not independently verified these incidents. They are reported here as HRW documented them.
The wider pattern HRW describes
In a 2023 report, HRW documented more than a dozen killings, kidnappings and attacks on Rwandans living abroad. Rwanda has previously rejected accusations that it targets critics abroad. HRW's Clémentine de Montjoye called on Ugandan authorities to carry out an impartial investigation and bring those responsible to justice.
No evidence has been made public linking the Rwandan state to Kabera's death, and investigators have not named a motive. The exiled opposition Rwanda National Congress called for a thorough investigation, asking: "where can we be safe?" His widow, Jeanne d'Arc Rwigema Uwizeye, has said she fears for her family's safety.
Context: Uganda, Rwanda and refugees
Relations between Kampala and Kigali have swung between hostility and reconciliation in recent years. Uganda denies carrying out illegal renditions. The Daily Monitor reported on 23 October that the killing has caused alarm among refugees, amid a wider wave of violent crime: Uganda's police annual crime report recorded 4,329 homicides in 2024. The paper also noted that Uganda is in talks with Western countries about receiving rejected migrants.
The region is also coping with an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain, first identified in Uganda; see our coverage of Kenya's rising Ebola cases. For the colonial history behind today's Great Lakes borders, see the Scramble for Africa.
What to watch
- Publication of the post-mortem results.
- Any arrests or charges, and whether police confirm or deny the "boda boda" lead.
- Any public response from Kigali.
- Whether UNHCR or resettlement countries speed up the cases of other at-risk Rwandan refugees in Uganda.
What is still unclear
- Who killed Kabera and why. Police have named no suspects and no motive.
- The whereabouts of his head, and the official cause of death.
- Whether the man described by a relative as travelling with him on 16 October has been identified.
Sources
- Human Rights Watch: Uganda: Ensure Justice for Killing of Rwandan Dissident (22 Oct 2026)
- AP News: Rwandan dissident killed in Uganda
- BBC News: killing of Rwandan dissident Robert Kabera in Uganda
- The Independent (Uganda): No suspects yet in beheading of Rwandan ex-soldier
- Daily Monitor: Uganda police speak out on beheaded Rwandan dissident
- Daily Monitor: Wave of killings sparks fear
- ChimpReports: Kabera murder: police yet to arrest suspects
