KAMPALA, UGANDA — Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has expressed suspicion that certain members of the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), led by Kayumba Nyamwasa, may have played a role in the killing of Robert Kabera, widely known as Sergeant Robert, who was recently murdered in Uganda.
General Muhoozi raised the possibility that Kabera’s death could be connected to the arrest of Major General Abel Kandiho, the former head of Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
The Ugandan military chief acknowledged receiving information about the killing of a former Rwanda Defence Force soldier but emphasized that his office had not previously been informed about Kabera’s presence in the country.
In his statement, Muhoozi said he strongly suspected that certain individuals associated with Kayumba Nyamwasa’s RNC were involved in the killing. He further questioned whether the incident might represent retaliation for Kandiho’s arrest, indicating that the circumstances would need to be established through further investigation.
His remarks come as Ugandan police continue investigating Kabera’s death to identify those responsible and determine the motive behind the killing.
Sergeant Robert’s Disputes With RNC Figures and Kandiho’s Previous Connections
Before his death, Robert Kabera had publicly described disagreements with individuals associated with the Rwanda National Congress.
In October 2025, Kabera participated in an interview broadcast on YouTube, during which he presented an audio recording that he described as containing threats directed against him by Rugema Kayumba.
Rugema Kayumba, a nephew of RNC founder Kayumba Nyamwasa, previously served in the Rwanda Defence Force before deserting. Both men subsequently became associated with the opposition organization.
In the recording presented during the interview, Rugema Kayumba was heard reminding Kabera that he had received assistance after arriving in Uganda, including food and other support. The remarks subsequently became hostile, with Rugema questioning Kabera’s claims that individuals were pursuing him and suggesting that those seeking him should come and take him away.
Kabera explained that tensions between the two men had intensified following an interview in which he publicly expressed admiration for Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
According to Kabera, Rugema reacted negatively after learning that he had expressed affection and respect for the Rwandan president. Kabera maintained that he had spoken with Rugema only once before receiving another communication containing hostile remarks.
He further expressed concern that individuals associated with the group were pursuing him in Uganda and attempting to have him killed.
General Muhoozi’s recent comments have also renewed attention to the activities of Kayumba Nyamwasa, Rwanda’s former Chief of Defence Staff, who later left the country and became one of the founders of the Rwanda National Congress.
The RNC has faced longstanding accusations concerning activities intended to undermine Rwanda’s security, including reported cooperation with armed organizations operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo together with FDLR terrorist groups.
During Major General Abel Kandiho’s leadership of Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, the institution faced accusations of maintaining close relationships with the RNC, including involvement in recruitment activities and assistance to individuals opposed to the Rwandan government.
In December 2021, Kandiho traveled to South Africa, where reports indicated that he held a private meeting with Kayumba Nyamwasa.
That same month, the United States imposed financial sanctions on Kandiho in connection with serious human rights violations attributed to his leadership of Uganda’s military intelligence service.
American authorities stated that individuals had been arrested, detained in undisclosed locations, and subjected to torture because of their nationality or political views during Kandiho’s tenure.
Although the United States did not specifically identify Rwanda in its sanctions announcement, the concerns were consistent with issues previously raised by the Rwandan government regarding the treatment of Rwandan nationals detained by Uganda’s military intelligence authorities.
On September 9, 2026, Ugandan security authorities arrested Major General Abel Kandiho alongside Brigadier General Charles Bakahumura, another former head of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence.
Kandiho was detained at his farm in Gomba District, central Uganda.
According to information published by Pulse Uganda, the arrests were connected to investigations involving suspected dissemination of false intelligence information and other security-related offences.
Although Kandiho and Kayumba Nyamwasa had previously maintained contacts, no publicly available evidence has established a connection between Kandiho’s detention and Kabera’s killing.
General Muhoozi’s suggestion that the death could represent retaliation therefore remains a matter requiring further investigation.
Sergeant Robert’s Killing in Mpigi District and His Military Background
Robert Kabera, approximately 50 years old, was discovered dead on October 17, 2026, in Luwala village, Kammengo, within Uganda’s Mpigi District.
His body was found decapitated, prompting Ugandan security authorities to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
According to information published by ChimpReports, Kabera traveled from Kampala to Luwala on October 16, 2026, to visit a relative identified as Victor Agaba.
After arriving in the area, Kabera reportedly visited a nearby bar before disappearing.
When he failed to return, his relative began searching for him the following morning.
During the search, Agaba learned that a body had been discovered nearby. He subsequently visited the location and identified Kabera through a distinctive scar on his right thumb and shoes found near the body.
On October 19, Uganda Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed that investigators had opened an inquiry into the killing and were continuing efforts to locate Kabera’s missing head.
Police reported that the victim’s body had been transported to Mulago Hospital for further examination.
Investigators indicated that Kabera may have been killed during the night of October 16–17 or in the early hours of October 17.
Before relocating to Uganda, Kabera was widely recognized in Rwanda for his musical performances with the Rwanda Defence Force’s Army Jazz Band.
His involvement in military music brought him public recognition and established his reputation as Sergeant Robert.
In November 2020, Kabera left Rwanda for Uganda while facing criminal accusations involving the sexual abuse of his daughter.
Following his arrival in Uganda, he developed associations with individuals opposed to the Rwandan government, including members of Kayumba Nyamwasa’s Rwanda National Congress, but they bumped their heads and disagreed several times
His activities subsequently attracted the attention of Ugandan security authorities.
In May 2022, Kabera was arrested in Uganda on suspicion of offences involving the unlawful possession and trafficking of firearms. He was later released on bail.
His death has now drawn renewed attention to his previous political associations, reported disagreements with RNC members, and the historical relationship between certain RNC figures and former Ugandan military intelligence officials.
As Ugandan authorities continue their investigation, General Muhoozi’s public statements have placed additional scrutiny on the possible circumstances surrounding Kabera’s killing.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities seeking to establish the identity of those responsible and determine whether the crime was connected to the disputes and political relationships that characterized Kabera’s final years in Uganda.
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