Moses Matovu’s candle has burnt out
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The popular voice familiar to many a show goer is no more, due a fatal blow to the head, blamed on a love triangle. Moses Matovu, the iconic 77-year-old leader and founding member of Afrigo Band, died early Thursday morning, September 24, 2026, following a suspected murder stemming from a physical altercation.
Police have confirmed that Matovu was attacked at Kibuli Market Zone B in Makindye Division, Kampala, before being rushed to Kibuli Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The circumstances surrounding the attack remain under investigation.
Alleged confrontation over a woman
Preliminary accounts circulating after the killing indicate that Matovu was allegedly confronted outside the residence of a woman identified as his girlfriend, in what is suspected to have been a confrontation involving another man.
According to the account, the confrontation turned physical, with the suspect allegedly hitting Matovu on the head. The blow reportedly left the veteran musician with severe injuries and heavy blood loss.
Suspect apprehended
Matovu was subsequently taken to Kibuli Hospital for emergency treatment, but his condition deteriorated and he died shortly afterwards.
A woman identified as Rose Tumusiime has reportedly been detained to assist police with investigations, while a male suspect is said to have fled the scene and is being sought by security authorities.
However, the alleged love-triangle motive has not been officially established by police. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala said investigators were still working to establish what exactly happened. Police have not publicly confirmed the identity of the attacker, the weapon allegedly used or the number of people involved.
Murder inquiry
Kabalagala Police have registered the matter as a suspected murder and deployed a task team to investigate the circumstances of Matovu’s death.
“Our task team is currently at the scene conducting investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Efforts are also underway to identify and apprehend the suspected assailants,” Kawala said.
Police said further information would be released as investigations progress.
Some initial reports indicated that Matovu had been attacked while heading towards a mosque for morning prayers. This account has been reported by several Ugandan media outlets, although the precise sequence of events remains subject to police investigation.
Extraordinary musical journey
Matovu’s death brings to an abrupt end a musical career spanning nearly six decades.
Born on June 19, 1949, in Kawempe, Kampala, Matovu entered professional music in the 1960s and performed with the Thunderbirds Band, Police Band and Cranes Band before helping establish Afrigo Band in 1975.
For five decades, he served as the group’s leader, saxophonist, vocalist and composer, helping Afrigo become Uganda’s longest-serving and most recognisable live bands.
Known affectionately to many fans as Papa Moi, Matovu remained a central figure in Uganda’s live-music scene even as generations of musicians came and went.
His death now leaves police with the task of unraveling the circumstances behind the fatal confrontation, while Uganda’s music fraternity mourns one of the men most closely associated with Afrigo Band’s remarkable five-decade journey.
