The Police Spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke, has revealed that the force is investing the murder of a former Rwanda soldier turned critic, Sgt Maj Robert Kabera who was beheaded over the weekend by unknown people in Luwala village, Kammengo Sub-county, Mpigi District.
“We registered a murder of a male adult, averagely 50 years, whose head was cut off and up to now, the head has not yet been recovered, but we recovered the body minus the head and it was conveyed to City Mortuary Mulago” he said.
He added, “The male adult was identified as Mr. Robert Kabera by the relatives, but for us, we always must end with a scientific process”.
Kituuma said the murder was reported to police on Saturday, by residents after the discovery of trunk in a bush near his building site.
“But the incident may have occurred either in the night of 16th, or even early morning of 17th. The remains of Kabera, were discovered by locals who informed police. Incidentally, also the relatives were concerned about the person, who usually would not take long to communicate” he said.
He added, “We are investigating that murder, and any other details that are relevant, either to his murder, or any other circumstances surrounding his life”.
According to sources privy to the investigation, an inter-agency security team is searching for a boda boda rider identified as Innocent, who reportedly disappeared after Kabera’s murder.
The Katonga Police Region spokesperson, Ms Lydia Tumushabe in a statement earlier revealed that Kabera, returned to Luwala Village from Kampala City on Friday with his trusted Boda boda rider one, Innocent.
“He greeted his brother Oscar, who he lives with, and then went to a nearby bar with his motorcycle rider, Innocent. According to the deceased’s brother, Oscar, at around 23.30 hours (11.30pm) the deceased came back to pick up his phone and went back, still with his rider. He again returned at about midnight to bring food home, and went away again” she said.
Tumushabe noted that it was the last time, the deceased was seen alive.
On Saturday morning, the deceased’s brother Victor Agaba, went to check on him at his home but didn’t find him there, and upon checking at the bar was told, he was last seen at 9:30 pm, after which he went to the garden thinking Kabera had slept in a lodge.
However at around 2pm, he was informed of the discovery of a headless body in the area, which he later identified as Kabera’s.
Kabera, a nephew to the first commander of the Rwandan Patriotic Front late Fred Gisa Rwigema, fled Rwanda and sought protection in Uganda in November 2020, citing fears of persecution by the government.
In 2021, Sgt Maj Kabera was among the Rwandan exiles who complained about alleged threats against their lives by Rwandan security operatives.
Kabera had also previously reported threats to his life, in October 2023, while a resident of Sserwanga Village in Kampala’s Lubaga Division.
