Uganda’s music industry has been plunged into mourning following the death of veteran musician Moses Matovu, the legendary leader of Afrigo Band, after he was reportedly attacked and struck on the head.
Matovu, popularly known to generations of fans as “Papa Moi,” died on Thursday, September 24, 2026, after reportedly suffering severe blood loss and being rushed to Kibuli Hospital, according to reports emerging in Kampala.
The circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear. Initial reports have not established where the incident occurred or identified the person or people responsible.
Matovu was 77 and had spent more than five decades at the heart of Uganda’s live-band music scene.
His death marks the end of an extraordinary musical career that helped shape Uganda’s entertainment industry from the late 1960s through the modern era.
The man behind Afrigo
Born on June 19, 1949, in Kawempe, Kampala, Matovu entered professional music in 1967 as a vocalist with the Thunderbirds Band.
He later played with the Police Band and Cranes Band before teaming up with fellow musicians to establish Afrigo Band in the 1970s.
Afrigo was formally launched in 1975, emerging from the country’s vibrant live-band scene at a time when Kampala was dominated by bands playing jazz, soul and Congolese-influenced music. Matovu became the group’s defining figure as its leader, vocalist and saxophonist.
The name Afrigo was derived from “Africa Go,” reflecting the founders’ ambition to develop an African musical identity.
Under Matovu’s leadership, Afrigo developed a distinctive sound blending Congolese rumba, jazz, African rhythms and Ugandan traditional influences, particularly through Luganda lyrics.
Five decades of music
Afrigo survived political upheavals, economic hardships, changing musical tastes and the emergence of a new generation of Ugandan artistes.
The band became one of the country’s longest-running musical institutions, performing for successive generations and producing a catalogue that includes songs such as “Afrigo Batuuse,” “Jim,” “Tonyiiga” and “Olulimi Lwange.”
In 2025, Afrigo marked 50 years since its formation, celebrating a remarkable journey that had taken the group from Kampala’s nightclubs of the 1970s to international stages and performances before audiences across generations.
Matovu’s contribution to Ugandan music had long been recognised as exceptional. Daily Monitor described him as a central figure in Uganda’s live-band tradition, noting his nearly five decades on stage and his role in leading Afrigo.
A defining voice of an era
For many Ugandans, Matovu was more than a bandleader. He was one of the musicians who connected Uganda’s older live-band tradition with successive generations of music lovers.
Afrigo’s longevity was closely associated with Matovu’s leadership and his determination to keep live-band music relevant as Uganda’s music industry moved towards new genres and digital platforms.
The band celebrated its golden jubilee just last year, with Matovu still regarded as the central figure in its remarkable five-decade story.
His death now leaves a major void in Uganda’s entertainment industry and closes a chapter in the history of the country’s live-band era.
Moses Matovu leaves behind a musical legacy spanning nearly 60 years — from his first professional performances in the 1960s to Afrigo’s golden jubilee and beyond.
Further details about the circumstances of his death and funeral arrangements are expected from his family and Afrigo Band.
