Uganda’s music industry is mourning the death of veteran musician, saxophonist and vocalist Moses Matovu, the long-serving leader and co-founder of Afrigo Band, who died on Thursday, September 24, 2026, after being attacked in Kampala.
Police said Matovu was allegedly attacked by unidentified assailants at Kibuli Market Zone B in Makindye Division. He was rushed to Kibuli Hospital for medical attention but later succumbed to his injuries.
In a statement shared through the Uganda Police Force’s official communication channels, police at Kabalagala said they had registered a case of suspected murder involving the veteran musician.
“Our task team is currently at the scene conducting investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Police said efforts were underway to identify and apprehend the suspected assailants, adding that more information would be released as investigations progress.
The motive and identities of those responsible had not been established at the time of reporting.
Who Was Moses Matovu?
Born on June 19, 1949, in Kawempe, Kampala, Moses Matovu was one of the defining figures in Uganda’s live-band music tradition.
He has been a singer, saxophonist, composer and bandleader whose career spanned nearly six decades.
Matovu’s musical journey began in the 1960s.
He performed with the Thunderbirds Band before joining the Police Band and later the Cranes Band.
Following the collapse of the Cranes Band, he joined other musicians in establishing Afrigo Band in 1975.
Under his leadership, Afrigo grew into one of Uganda’s longest-running and most influential musical groups, surviving political upheavals, changing musical tastes and generations of musicians.
Matovu was particularly celebrated for his saxophone playing and vocals, while his leadership helped Afrigo maintain its distinctive blend of Ugandan rhythms, jazz and African rumba.
Education and Early Life
Matovu attended Kibuli Secondary School and later Pillai’s Secondary School.
Before devoting himself fully to music, he also pursued football and played for several Ugandan clubs, including Nakivubo Boys, Police and Express.
He eventually chose music as his lifelong profession, becoming a central figure in Uganda’s entertainment history.
For generations of Ugandans, Moses Matovu was more than a musician.
Through Afrigo Band, he helped preserve and develop Uganda’s live-band culture while mentoring successive generations of performers.
Afrigo celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, marking five decades of a musical institution closely associated with Matovu’s name and leadership.
At the age of 77, Matovu’s death marks the passing of one of the most enduring figures in Uganda’s musical history.
Nim Media 256 will continue to follow the story and bring you further details as they emerge.
