Uganda Police on Thursday, September 24, 2026, confirmed musician Moses Matovu died after an alleged attack at Kibuli Market in Kampala, with circumstances surrounding his death still under investigation today.
Police said Matovu, a musician with the legendary Afrigo Band, was allegedly attacked by unknown assailants in Kibuli Market Zone B, Makindye Division, Kampala District, during the morning.
The musician was rushed to Kibuli Hospital for medical attention after the incident but later succumbed to his injuries, according to the police.
“Police at Kabalagala have registered a case of suspected murder involving Matovu Moses, a musician with Afrigo Band,” Uganda Police Force said in a statement.
The force said its task team had been deployed to the scene to establish what happened and identify the people responsible for the attack.
“Efforts are also underway to identify and apprehend the suspected assailants. More details will be shared as the investigation progresses,” police said.
Police have not yet disclosed the motive for the suspected attack, the nature of Matovu’s injuries or whether any arrests have been made.
The death marks the loss of one of the most recognizable figures in Uganda’s live-band music history. Matovu was born on June 19, 1949, in Kawempe, Kampala, and developed an interest in music from an early age. He later became a singer, saxophonist, composer and band leader.
Matovu began his professional music career in 1967 as a vocalist with the Thunderbirds Band before joining the Police Band in 1968 and the Cranes Band in 1969.
He later helped establish Afrigo Band in the 1970s, becoming its long-serving leader and one of the central figures behind its enduring presence in Uganda’s music industry.
Afrigo developed a distinctive sound combining Congolese rumba, jazz, African rhythms and Ugandan musical traditions, eventually becoming one of the country’s longest-standing musical groups.
Matovu’s influence extended beyond performing. Over the years, he mentored younger musicians and remained closely involved in Afrigo’s activities, helping the band maintain its presence across generations.
In August 2025, Afrigo marked 50 years of music, with Matovu still performing and leading the group. Daily Monitor described him as a central figure in Uganda’s live-band music industry, while Uganda’s government information platform also recognised his role in the band’s five-decade journey.
Just weeks before his death, Matovu was involved in a planned Afrigo Band concert organised with the Former Footballers Seniors Foundation to raise support for retired footballers. The concert was scheduled for September 6, 2026, at Caring Hearts in Wakiso.
As investigations continue, police have asked for time to establish the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible.
Matovu’s death comes as Uganda’s music fraternity mourns a musician whose career stretched across nearly six decades and whose name became closely associated with the history and survival of Afrigo Band.