Robert Kabera, a former Rwandan soldier, musician and outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame, has reportedly been found dead at a construction site in Kamengo, Mpigi District, Uganda. Kabera, popularly known as Sergeant Robert, was reportedly discovered on Saturday, October 17, 2026, near a house he was building.
Reports indicate that Kabera may have spent the night at the construction site before unidentified attackers allegedly assaulted him. Accounts circulating about the incident claim that his body was found with his head missing, although the graphic details and circumstances of his death had not been independently verified in the available reports.
As of the initial reports, Ugandan police had not publicly confirmed the full circumstances surrounding the killing, identified suspects or established a motive. Questions remain about who last saw Kabera alive, whether he had received threats and what happened at the construction site.
Kabera previously served in the Rwanda Defence Force, where he reportedly worked as a military instructor and musician. He fled to Uganda with his wife in November 2020, saying he feared for his life. The Rwandan military subsequently described him as a fugitive and said he was being investigated over allegations of sexual assault, which Kabera denied, calling them politically motivated.
After moving to Uganda, Kabera became increasingly vocal in his criticism of the Rwandan government, using music and public commentary to discuss human rights and unity among Rwandans. His background as a former soldier who later became a critic of the government has renewed concerns about the safety of political dissidents living outside their home countries.
Kabera had also previously encountered Ugandan security authorities. In May 2022, he was arrested during an operation at his residence over allegations of unlawful possession of a firearm and was later released on police bond. However, there is no established evidence linking that earlier arrest to his reported death.
The Rwanda National Congress (RNC), an opposition organisation critical of Kagame’s government, has called for an investigation into Kabera’s death. The organisation has raised concerns about the safety of Rwandan government critics living in exile and urged Ugandan authorities and international bodies to establish what happened. Its suggestions of a possible political motive have not been independently confirmed.
The circumstances of Kabera’s reported killing remain unclear, and no publicly confirmed evidence has established who was responsible or why he was attacked. Investigators will need to establish the facts through forensic examinations, witness accounts and other evidence, while determining whether his political activities played any role in the incident.
