Veteran Ugandan musician and Afrigo Band founder Moses Matovu has died at the age of 77 after being attacked by unidentified assailants in Kibuli, Kampala, in the early hours of Thursday, September 24.

Police have opened a suspected murder investigation following the death of the celebrated singer, saxophonist, composer and bandleader, who was one of the most enduring figures in Uganda's live music history. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala said Kabalagala Police had registered a case of suspected murder after Matovu was attacked at Kibuli Market Zone B in Makindye Division. He was rushed to Kibuli Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Police said a task team was at the scene investigating the circumstances of the attack and working to identify and apprehend the suspected assailants.

The circumstances surrounding the attack remain under investigation. Police had not, at the time of the latest reports, publicly identified any suspects, disclosed the number of attackers or established a motive. Reports circulating on social media have raised various theories about what may have happened before the attack, including claims involving a woman and a possible relationship dispute. Those claims have not been independently verified, and police have not publicly linked Matovu's death to an affair or relationship dispute.

According to a friend, Matovu regularly went to Kibuli Mosque for early-morning prayers and claimed the musician had stepped out of his Land Rover when he was attacked. Other people at the scene suggested that Matovu may have been targeted by a resident, but authorities had not established the exact circumstances of the confrontation.

The attack came only hours after Matovu had performed at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday evening. Reports also indicate that he had played at a farewell event for the outgoing executive director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda. Tony Otoa of the Uganda National Oil Company was among those who interacted with him during the event and later paid tribute to the musician.

Matovu was born on June 19, 1949, in Kawempe, Kampala, to Abdallah Bukenya and Solome Nakitto. His musical journey began when he was a child. He sang in the Namirembe Cathedral choir before entering professional music in the 1960s. He initially performed with the Thunderbirds Band, later joined the Police Band and then became part of Cranes Band.

Before committing himself fully to music, Matovu was also a talented footballer. He played for teams including Nakivubo Boys, Lint Marketing Board, Police FC, Express FC and Fiat FC. He eventually left competitive football in 1972 to concentrate on music, a decision that would lead to one of the longest careers in Uganda's entertainment industry.

Following the collapse of Cranes Band, Matovu and fellow musicians established Afrigo Band in 1975. The group went on to become one of Uganda's longest-running and most influential live bands, surviving political upheavals, changes in musical tastes and the departure or death of many of its original members. Matovu remained at the centre of the group for five decades as its leader, saxophonist, vocalist and composer.

Afrigo's music drew from Congolese rumba, jazz, funk and Ugandan musical traditions. Much of the band's repertoire was performed in Luganda, connecting its music to everyday Ugandan life while its live performances and international tours introduced Afrigo to audiences outside the country. Over the years, the band became a training ground for generations of Ugandan musicians, including performers such as Joanita Kawalya, Rachel Magoola, Herman Ssewanyana, Frank Mbalire and Sammy Kasule.

Matovu was also a songwriter and composer. His work included songs such as "Nantongo", "Silina Anantwaala", "Teri Mubi", "Emiziro", "Genda Osome" and "Afrigo Batuuse". He had begun recording music before Afrigo was established, with "Jimmy Saasira" and "Emiziro" among the early recordings associated with his career.

Afrigo celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, marking five decades of continuous musical history. By then, Matovu had become one of the few Ugandan musicians whose careers stretched across virtually every major era of the country's modern popular-music industry. He continued performing even in his seventies and remained closely involved in mentoring younger musicians and preserving the live-band tradition.

Matovu's death therefore represents more than the loss of a veteran performer. It marks the death of one of the principal figures responsible for keeping Uganda's live-band tradition alive across generations. For more than half a century, his saxophone, voice, songwriting and leadership were closely associated with Afrigo's identity.

His final performance at the Sheraton Hotel on Wednesday night has now become the last public appearance of a musician whose career began in the 1960s and whose name became inseparable from Afrigo Band.

As investigations continue, police have appealed for information that could help establish exactly what happened at Kibuli Market Zone B and identify those responsible for the attack. The motive for the killing remains unknown, and further details are expected as the investigation progresses.