Veteran musician and Afrigo Band icon Moses Matovu has died after he was attacked by unidentified assailants in Kampala. Matovu, 77, breathed his last at Kibuli Hospital on Thursday morning, where he had been rushed after the attack.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachel Kawala said police at Kabalagala had registered a case of suspected murder involving the musician. “Police at Kabalagala have registered a case of suspected murder involving Matovu Moses, a musician with Afrigo Band,” Kawala said.
According to police, Matovu was allegedly attacked early Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Kibuli Market Zone B in Makindye Division, Kampala District. He was rushed to Kibuli Hospital for medical attention but later succumbed to his injuries.
“Our task team is currently at the scene conducting investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Kawala said. She added that police were also working to identify and apprehend the suspected assailants. Preliminary information indicates that Matovu was attacked as he made his way to a mosque for morning prayers.
The circumstances surrounding the attack and the motive remained unclear by the time of filing this story. Matovu was one of the founding members of Afrigo Band, formed in 1975 and later becoming one of Uganda’s longest-running and most influential live bands.
He joined the music industry in the 1960s, initially performing with the Thunderbirds Band before joining the Police Band and later the Cranes Band. Following the collapse of the Cranes Band, Matovu and other musicians founded Afrigo Band in 1975. He remained a central figure in the band for decades, serving variously as its leader, saxophonist, vocalist and composer.
With a career spanning nearly six decades, Matovu became one of the most recognisable figures in Uganda’s live-band music tradition and played a major role in keeping the genre alive through successive generations. Police investigations into his death are ongoing.
Details to follow….-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
