KAMPALA — Uganda’s music industry is mourning the death of veteran musician and Afrigo Band founding member Moses Matovu, who has died after being attacked by unidentified assailants in Kampala.
Matovu, aged 77, succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack and died at Kibuli Hospital on Thursday morning, September 24, 2026, where he had been taken for medical attention.
According to police, Matovu was attacked in the Kibuli Market Zone B area of Makindye Division in Kampala. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala said a case of suspected murder had been registered at Kabalagala Police Station as investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death got underway.
Police said a team of investigators had been deployed to the scene to establish what happened and identify the people responsible for the attack. The motive behind the incident and the identities of the suspected attackers were not immediately known.
Preliminary information indicates that Matovu was attacked in the early morning hours as he made his way to a mosque for morning prayers. However, investigations are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The death of Matovu brings to an end a remarkable musical journey that spanned nearly six decades. He was one of the founding figures behind Afrigo Band, a group that became one of Uganda’s longest-running and most influential live bands.
Matovu and fellow musicians formed Afrigo Band in 1975 following the collapse of the Cranes Band. He went on to become one of the group’s most recognisable figures, serving at different times as its leader, vocalist, saxophonist and composer.
Born on June 19, 1949, in Kampala, Matovu began his professional music career in the 1960s. He performed with the Thunderbirds Band before joining the Police Band and later the Cranes Band, experiences that helped shape his career before the birth of Afrigo Band.
Through Afrigo Band, Matovu played a major role in keeping Uganda’s live-band tradition alive for generations. His music, leadership and performances helped establish the band as an important part of Uganda’s entertainment and cultural history.
Afrigo Band celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, marking five decades of performances and musical influence. Matovu remained closely associated with the band throughout much of that journey and continued contributing to its administration and performances well into his later years.
His death has left musicians, fans and the wider entertainment fraternity mourning one of the figures who helped shape Uganda’s modern live-music scene.
As investigations continue, attention now turns to the circumstances surrounding the attack and efforts by security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Moses Matovu leaves behind a musical legacy built over decades, with Afrigo Band remaining a lasting part of the history of Ugandan music.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
