Veteran musician and Afrigo Band icon Moses Matovu has died after he was attacked by unidentified assailants in Kampala.
Matovu, 77, breathed his last at Kibuli hospital on Thursday morning, where he had been rushed after the attack.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachel Kawala said police at Kabalagala had registered a case of suspected murder involving the musician.
“Police at Kabalagala have registered a case of suspected murder involving Matovu Moses, a musician with Afrigo Band,” Kawala said.
According to police, Matovu was allegedly attacked early Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Kibuli Market Zone B in Makindye Division, Kampala district. He was rushed to Kibuli Hospital for medical attention but later succumbed to his injuries.
“Our task team is currently at the scene conducting investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Kawala said. She added that police were also working to identify and apprehend the suspected assailants.
Preliminary information indicates that Matovu was attacked as he made his way to a mosque for morning prayers. The circumstances surrounding the attack and the motive remained unclear by press time.
Matovu was one of the founding members of Afrigo Band, formed in 1975 and later becoming one of Uganda’s longest-running and most influential live bands.
He joined the music industry in the 1960s, initially performing with the Thunderbirds Band before joining the Police Band and later the Cranes Band.
Following the collapse of the Cranes Band, Matovu and other musicians founded Afrigo Band in 1975.He remained a central figure in the band for decades, serving variously as its leader, saxophonist, vocalist and composer.
With a career spanning nearly six decades, Matovu became one of the most recognisable figures in Uganda’s live-band music tradition and played a major role in keeping the genre alive through successive generations.Police investigations into his death are ongoing.
Details to follow….
But other sources say a woman was involved and even car is seen so it couldnt have been thugs other motive could have led to his death bambi.kitalo for the music world and afrigo band.the only band that was playing real music.
This is really really tragic. His band played at our wedding for two days .
Alex Mukulu gone , then follows Mw.Matovu,at a time when this unfortunate country is yet to come to terms with the demise of the Omukama and all the mess that tends to emerge thereafter .
Uganda is like Job of the bible. Sometimes , we find ourselves questioning God`s fairness .
RIP
RIP Matovu. My sis. Betty, Job had the right to question God’s fairness because problems were visited on him, and yet he didn’t cause them. Job was excellent in every way. In Uganda, innocent blood is crying. Unfortunately, bloodshed is continuing. Some might say, I didn’t kill anyone. However, as long as you cheer the killer, you’re complicit and responsible for outcomes. What caused/causes murders and other societal evils: hate, greed and failure to co-exist. You, mothers play a bigger role in societal outcomes. Please teach children not to hate but to love. Never say a hateful statement against any group before a child.
On a light note, you wrote that the late Matovu’s music played at your wedding for two days! Why did you delay the honey moon? Freaking out? Lol.
24 hours ago , at the funeral of Mw.Ssenkubuge`s wife ,Ow´ekitiibwa Kazibwe Kitooke warned and informed us that we are losing the fight when it comes to the way we are raising our kids.
What he didn`t say was that Uganda has tragically and collectively lost every fight on all fronts.
Take this case as an example : from the moment it was known that Moses Matovu had died , there have been more than enough versions of how he died , who “murdered ” him ; where he was going or coming from ; the “woman” etc etc.
Because we have lost the fight , everyone feels free to create their own facts. Even the police is quick to “arrest” someone who may turn out to be just an important eye witness.
Our own Observer makes the same mistake of publishing a photo of a young lady who may not have committed any crime besides being there when her social acquaintances start a fight in which one fatally punches the other. ( a likely case of man slaughter as opposed to one of murder )
We are running too fast not really knowing where we are heading to.
Thugs?? No, crime of passion.