Veteran Ugandan musician Moses Matovu, a founding member and longtime leader of Afrigo Band, died Thursday after sustaining serious injuries during a confrontation in Kibuli, Kampala, police said.
Matovu, 77, was taken to Kibuli Hospital after the incident in Kibuli Market Zone B, Makindye Division, but later died from his injuries. Kabalagala Police Station opened a suspected murder case.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala said preliminary investigations indicate that Matovu had gone to the residence of a woman early Thursday and was confronted by a man who was allegedly previously in a relationship with her.
“Police at Kabalagala have registered a case of suspected murder involving Matovu Moses, a musician with Afrigo Band. Moses was allegedly attacked this morning, 24.09.2026, by unknown assailants at Kibuli Market Zone B, in Makindye Division, Kampala District. He was rushed to Kibuli Hospital for medical attention, where he later succumbed to his injuries,” Kawala said on X.
“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.”
Later in the morning, police said a woman who had been with Matovu was arrested and was assisting investigators. Police also said they had identified a male suspect who was believed to have fled the scene.
Kawala said investigators were still establishing what happened during the confrontation.
“The exact circumstances surrounding the confrontation are yet to be fully established,” she said.
Police recovered exhibits from the scene, including a concrete paver. Bloodstains covered with ash were also found on the ground near Matovu’s vehicle, according to reporting from the scene.
The early police account described Matovu as having been attacked by unknown assailants. Later information from investigators pointed to a possible physical altercation involving the woman and another man. Police have not said that the circumstances have been conclusively established.
A career spanning six decades
Matovu was born in Kawempe, Kampala, on June 19, 1949, to Abdallah Bukenya bin Adam and Solome Nakitto.
He began his professional music career in the 1960s, first performing with the Thunderbirds Band before joining the Police Band and later the Cranes Band. The Cranes Band broke up in 1975, after which Matovu and other musicians formed Afrigo Band in Kampala on Aug. 31 that year.
Matovu was among the band’s founding members and became its leader, saxophonist, vocalist and composer. Afrigo went on to become one of Uganda’s longest-running live bands.
The group drew heavily from Congolese rumba and Ugandan traditional rhythms and performed largely in Luganda, with a repertoire that included songs such as “Jim,” “Nantongo” and “Afrigo Batuuse.”
Matovu remained closely associated with Afrigo for five decades and was one of the most recognisable figures in Uganda’s live-band tradition.
His death came as police continued investigating the circumstances of the Kibuli incident.
