Exiled Rwandan critic Robert Kabera found dead near Kampala, police investigate

Robert Kabera, an exiled former Rwandan soldier who became one of the most-watched online critics of President Paul Kagame, has been found dead outside Kampala, Uganda. Police say he was killed and decapitated, and that the motive is not yet known.

What we know

Victim	Robert Kabera, 50, former sergeant major in the Rwanda Defence Force
Found	Saturday, October 17, 2026, in bushland at Kamengo, Mpigi district, outside Kampala
Announced	Monday, October 19, by Ugandan police
Identified by	His brother and local residents
Arrests	None announced

Police Superintendent Lydia Tumushabe said detectives had no firm clues about a motive. National police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said Kabera's earlier military service had been flagged to investigators and that the details would be established during the inquiry.

Who was Robert Kabera?

In Rwanda, Kabera was known both as a soldier and as a musician with the Army Jazz Band. He fled to Uganda in 2020, saying he was being persecuted at home. That year, Rwanda's military said it had opened an investigation into allegations against him and that efforts to trace him were under way.

In exile, he built a large online following. His YouTube channel, Major Robert TV, had more than 140,000 followers and over 800 videos, many sharply critical of Kagame and his government. Supporters of the government saw his videos as damaging to Rwanda's image.

Reaction

The killing has caused alarm among Rwandan refugees in Uganda, many of whom fear for their safety. There was no immediate comment from the Rwandan government, which has consistently denied targeting critics abroad.

Background

Kagame has led Rwanda since the end of the 1994 genocide and is credited with rebuilding the country and driving strong economic growth. Human rights groups accuse his government of restricting the media, suppressing the opposition and pursuing critics, which it denies. Several senior officers who fell out with Kagame have gone into exile, saying their lives were in danger.

Relations between Rwanda and Uganda have swung between cooperation and suspicion over the years, including a border closure from 2019 to 2022 amid accusations of spying and of harbouring each other's opponents.

Why it matters

The case raises questions about the safety of exiled critics and refugees in East Africa, and could strain ties between Kampala and Kigali, depending on what the investigation finds. Rights groups are likely to call for an independent inquiry. For Rwandan exiles across the region, the outcome of the investigation will show whether host countries can guarantee their protection.

What happens next

Ugandan police are continuing the investigation, including the search for those responsible. Watch for any arrests, a post-mortem report and statements from Rwanda's and Uganda's governments.