Former Busiro South Member of Parliament Charles Matovu has died aged 41, sparking an outpouring of grief among leaders and supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), where he was a senior member.
NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, described Matovu’s death as shocking, paying tribute to him as a brother, comrade and fellow leader in the opposition movement.
“Very shocking news. May God strengthen all of us,” Kyagulanyi said.
Matovu, an electrical engineer, represented Busiro South in Wakiso District during Uganda’s 11th Parliament after winning the constituency on the NUP ticket in the 2021 general elections.
Parliamentary records indicate that he was born on April 1, 1985.
According to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, Matovu developed a sudden health complication on Monday evening.
Rubongoya said he visited the former legislator at Lubaga Hospital on Thursday morning, where Matovu was in critical condition and could neither speak nor open his eyes.
He was later transferred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for further treatment but died shortly afterwards, according to Rubongoya.
The cause of death had not been officially disclosed by Thursday night.
Matovu remained politically active after leaving Parliament and contested the Busiro South seat again in the January 2026 general elections. However, he lost to National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Kenan Opio, who was declared the winner.
Official results showed that Opio garnered 36,497 votes, against Matovu’s 30,487.
Matovu subsequently petitioned the High Court in Entebbe, challenging the election outcome on grounds of alleged irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws, which he argued had affected the results.
On September 25, the court dismissed a separate application in which Matovu had sought access to additional electoral materials. The court ruled that his request had not identified the documents sought with sufficient specificity.
The ruling concerned access to the materials and was separate from the substantive election petition.
His death comes as the legal challenge to the Busiro South parliamentary election remained part of his political legacy.
Matovu’s political journey also unfolded against a backdrop of tensions during the 2025–2026 election campaigns.
In December 2025, NUP reported that Matovu and members of his campaign team had been assaulted by individuals alleged to have been wearing uniforms while campaigning in Busiro South. The party said those affected received treatment at Mengo Hospital.
Kyagulanyi’s tribute underscored the loss felt within NUP, with party members mourning a former legislator who continued to participate in politics after losing his parliamentary seat.
Further details, including funeral arrangements, had not been confirmed by the time of publication.
