24 September 2026: A sombre morning fell over Uganda over the death of legendary saxophonist and singer Moses Matovu, 77, who passed away at Kibuli Hospital early that day.
According to police, Afrigo band legend Moses Matovu succumbed to injuries following an early-morning attack at Kibuli Zone B, Makindye Division. Reports indicate that Moses was assaulted after dropping off Rose Tusiime at her residence at 5:30 am. While some sources link the incident to a suspected love triangle, insiders maintain that it was a routine drop-off of a “band member” at their home.
The attacker, who fled the scene, is believed to be Rose’s former partner. Witnesses describe the suspect as a taxi driver who allegedly assaulted Tumusiime first before turning his aggression toward Matovu. The attack occurred about 1 km from Matovu’s Kibuli residence.
As the investigation develops, here’s a brief overview of Moses Matovu and why his passing leaves such a profound void in Uganda.
Known among peers as Papa Moi, Moses Matovu of Afrigo Band was born on Sunday, 19 June 1949, in Kawempe, Kampala. He was the son of Abdallah Bukenya bin Adam and Solome Nakitto.
Moses began his musical journey in 1953, at just 4 years old, singing in the Namirembe Cathedral Choir. However, before fully committing to music, he was a talented professional footballer who played for prominent teams like Nakivubo Boys, Express FC, and Police FC.
In 1967, he entered the professional music industry as a vocalist with the Thunderbirds Band. A year later, he and several other notable musicians migrated to the Police Band, where he received his first formal music training and mastered the saxophone and flute.
In 1969, Moses moved to the Katwe-based Cranes Band, where he further honed his skills as a singer, instrumentalist, and original songwriter. This was the same ensemble that legendary musician Philly Bongoley Lutaaya joined when return from Zaire (now DR Congo) in 1973.
Following internal disagreements and the eventual collapse of Cranes Band, Moses eventually teamed up with seven other original members from the splintering Cranes Band to officially co-found Afrigo Band on 31 August 1975. They made their official public debut and launch on 1 November 1975 at the Bat Valley Bar and Restaurant.
Moses coined the name Afrigo as a play on the phrase “Africa Go.”
As the definitive leader, saxophonist and lead vocalist, Moses Matovu steered Afrigo Band to become Uganda’s longest-running and most celebrated live musical group.
Under his visionary leadership, the band successfully adapted to changing entertainment eras, recorded 23 albums, and popularised a unique blend of African rumba, jazz, and traditional Ugandan rhythms.
Moses Matovu, who lived as a widower in his later years, is survived by 11 children, as he often shared, and by an undisclosed number of grandchildren.
According to family members, Moses Matovu, though Muslim, will be buried at 4:00 PM on Friday, 25 September 2025, at his ancestral home in Kyanja.
