Weeks after the brutal killing of Sgt Major Robert Kabera in Mpigi District, many Rwandan refugees living in Uganda still cannot sleep in the same place two nights in a row. Kabera, a former RDF soldier who had become a vocal critic of President Paul Kagame, was found beheaded in Luwala village in mid October. His death has left a trail of fear among those who speak out from exile.
Attention has turned back to a public list posted earlier by Rwandan actress Clenia Dusenge, better known as Madederi from the Papa Sava series. In early October she addressed General Muhoozi Kainerugaba directly on X and named several Rwandans in Uganda she said are supposed to be shut up from their Youtube channels.
One of the people on that list has now spoken to Rwanda Freedom of Speech. The person, who asked not to be named, said life changed the moment Kabera’s body was discovered. “We no longer sleep in one place,” the individual told RFOS. “Some of us move every night. Others have gone into hiding completely. You do not know who is watching.”
According to information that reached RFOS, the number of Rwandan intelligence agents operating in Uganda and Southern Africa has increased. Sources link the rise to the growing number of Rwandans inside Uganda who continue to criticise the Kagame government on YouTube as well as those with major businesses. Several channels that regularly discuss alleged injustices back home have drawn larger audiences in recent months, and the authorities in Kigali appear to be taking notice.
Kabera himself had used YouTube to reach people, and his killing has silenced one voice while making others more cautious. Families of those named on Madederi’s list say they now check their surroundings carefully before leaving the house. Some have stopped posting altogether. Others still speak but only from phones that change numbers frequently.
Uganda has long hosted Rwandan refugees, including former soldiers and political critics. The beheading of Kabera has revived old fears that exile does not guarantee safety. Rwanda Freedom Of Speech and other Human rights groups have already called for a thorough investigation into his death. So far, no one has been arrested and his head is still missing.
Rwanda Freedom of Speech will continue to share new updates for as long as they are available. Those living in Uganda are advised to stay vigilant and informed. The danger does not appear to have passed.
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