By Ikebesi Omoding
Afrigo Band founder, Moses Matovu, was laid to rest on September 25, 2026, at his family’s ancestral grounds in Kyanja, outside Kampala. Matovu, aged 77, died a day earlier in a freak death in Kibuli allegedly involving a woman of the twilight.
In a subsequent appearing before Makindye Chief Magistrate Idah Nanjala, the Court heard that Arnold Vincent Nsamba, a part-time taxi driver of Agip Zone in Kibuli, with malice aforethought, caused the death of Matovu, by boxing him in a confrontation that involved Rose Tusiime. Matovu died at Kibuli Hospital after sustaining a severe head injury which is said to have had his head hit pavers on the ground.
Matovu, who was born in Kawempe on June 19, 1949, began his musical career at the age of four when he joined the Namirembe Cathedral choir. He also became a renowned aficionado of soccer in the Soccer Club Villa football club. He played for Nakivubo Boys, Express Football Club and Police Football Club. But it is as the SC Villa Football Club trustee that he is well remembered. It is here that he was the treasurer until his death.
His death drew many tributes from the Uganda’s elite. The main noted of these: Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga; and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director, Mr. Nyombi Thembo, praised his contribution to Ugandan music. The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA), president and MP for Pallisa Constituency, Moses Magogo, paid tribute to his service to both football and music.
It was mainly as the member of the Afrigo Jazz Band that Matovu came to and stayed in fame in the music industry in Uganda. He was the last survivour of the Afrigo Band he founded as he was famously been regarded as the ATG – the All Time Great of the music scene in the country.
Prince Kassim Nakibinge, the Head of Uganda’s Muslim community in Kibuli, and also a relative of the late Matovu, joined other mourners at Kibuli Mosque as they paid their final respects to the ATG legend and music aficionado Matovu.
Nakibinge remembered his long-time friendship with the Afrigo Band founder and drew laughter from mourners when he spoke about the only bad habit Matovu had Nakibinge is the patron of Express Football Club.
His joked on the rivalry between his club and Matovu’s beloved SC Villa. “We’ve been friends with Moses Matovu for a while and lived together, here. And we got closer because of football. We used to be together at Wankulukuku and Nakivubo,” Prince Nakibinge said. “And I never knew any bad habit about him apart from supporting SC Villa,” he added.
It was said that on the day of his death, Matovu had escorted Tusiime to her abode, when Nsamba came around and confronted them. Then, he first assaulted Tusiime; and when Matovu intervened, Nsamba hit him.
Nsamba, the prime suspect in the murder of the ATG legend, has been remanded to Luzira Upper Prison until November 3, 2026 when the murder case will come for mention.
