Exiled former Rwandan army chief Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa has responded strongly to Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, after Muhoozi linked elements of Nyamwasa’s Rwanda National Congress (RNC) to the killing of former Rwandan soldier Robert Kabera in Mpigi District. Nyamwasa rejected the tone of the remarks and warned that he would not remain silent over the accusations.
The exchange began after Muhoozi posted on X that he suspected certain members of the RNC could have been involved in Kabera’s murder. He also questioned whether the alleged involvement could have been connected to the September 2026 arrest of retired Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho, Uganda’s former military intelligence chief. Muhoozi said the circumstances surrounding the killing needed to be established.
Kabera, popularly known as Sgt. Robert, was found beheaded on October 17, 2026, in Luwala Village, Kamengo Sub-county, Mpigi District. He was a former member of the Rwanda Defence Force, had worked as an instructor with the Army Jazz Band and had become a critic of the Rwandan government after fleeing the country in 2020.
Responding to Muhoozi, Nyamwasa invoked his military background and his past role in Uganda’s liberation struggle. “Muhoozi, you know that I am a full General, and I am among those who captured Uganda along with your Father. So if you want to launch a war against me, we will fight,” he wrote on X, in a message that appeared to challenge the Ugandan army chief’s remarks.
In another post, Nyamwasa said Muhoozi’s words had hurt him and explained that he felt compelled to respond because of his military standing. He also said he had more to say about the matter and wanted Muhoozi to understand his historical connection to Uganda. Nyamwasa tagged Uganda’s Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the office of the Chief of Defence Forces.
Nyamwasa was born and raised in Uganda and joined the National Resistance Army in 1986 before rising through the ranks of Rwanda’s military to become its Chief of Staff. He later fell out with the Kigali government and co-founded the RNC, an opposition group based outside Rwanda. He has previously denied allegations that he uses Uganda as a base to destabilise Rwanda.
Meanwhile, Kabera’s killing remains under investigation by Ugandan police. Human Rights Watch has called for a prompt, impartial and credible investigation, amid reports that Kabera had received threats before his death. By Tuesday evening, police had not publicly named any suspects in connection with the murder, according to the report.
Despite the strong exchange between the two generals, the alleged involvement of RNC members in Kabera’s killing has not been established publicly. The investigation is expected to play a crucial role in determining what happened, while the dispute between Muhoozi and Nyamwasa adds another layer of tension to the case and the wider relationship between security figures linked to Uganda and Rwanda.
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