Police have arrested a woman who was with Afrigo Band legend Moses Matovu shortly before he was attacked and killed in Kibuli, Kampala, on Thursday morning. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala identified the woman only as Rose and said she is being detained as detectives search her rented room in Market A Zone, Kibuli.
According to Kawala, Rose has provided detectives with crucial information that could lead to the arrest of a prime suspect who remains at large. “We have the woman who has given us details of the prime suspect still at large. So far, the preliminary investigations show that the death is linked to the confrontation that resulted from this woman,” Kawala said.
Kawala said police were yet to establish the exact circumstances that led to Matovu’s death but were closing in on the suspect, whom she identified as a private security guard attached to a private security company. “We can’t right now determine exactly what could have caused this tragedy, but we are almost close to arresting this man, who is a private security guard,” she said.
Police said they could not disclose the suspect’s identity before his arrest. Kawala added that detectives would further interrogate Rose to establish the nature of her relationship with Matovu and the suspect who is on the run. Matovu was reportedly attacked at about 5:40 a.m. near Lubowa Mosque after he allegedly intervened when the suspect confronted Rose shortly after she had alighted from Matovu’s Range Rover Discovery, registration number UAR 982H.
During the confrontation, Matovu was allegedly punched and fell onto the pavement, sustaining a fatal head injury. He was rushed to Kibuli Hospital by a boda boda rider but was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after arrival. Police detectives were still combing the crime scene and areas where the prime suspect is believed to have been staying, while Matovu’s vehicle remained impounded at Kabalagala Police Division as investigations continued.
The development comes hours after police confirmed that Matovu had been attacked by unknown assailants at Kibuli Market Zone B in Makindye Division. The veteran musician, 77, was one of the founding members of Afrigo Band, which was formed in 1975. He remained a central figure in the band for decades as its leader, saxophonist, vocalist and composer. His death has sent shockwaves through Uganda’s music industry, where he was regarded as one of the most enduring figures in the country’s live-band tradition-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
