Heavy rain could not stop thousands of mourners from gathering in Kyanja on Friday to bid farewell to veteran musician and Afrigo Band founder Moses Matovu, as political leaders, cultural figures, fellow artistes and generations of his fans celebrated the life of a man whose music shaped Uganda for more than five decades. Matovu, popularly known as Papa Moi, was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kyanja, Kampala, following his death on Thursday at the age of 77.
The burial brought together a cross-section of Ugandan society, including family members, musicians, government officials, politicians, religious leaders and ordinary fans who grew up listening to Afrigo Band. The rain periodically sent mourners scrambling for shelter, but many remained at the burial grounds to witness the final journey of the saxophonist, composer and bandleader.
Among those who attended were the titular head of Muslims in Uganda, Prince Kassim Nakibinge, Kampala Minister Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, Public Service Minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala and Nansana Municipality MP Zambaali Bulasio Mukasa, among other dignitaries. The Government also pledged support to the bereaved family, with CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba contributing Shs15m towards the funeral arrangements and the family.
Nakibinge’s warning
In a speech delivered during the mourning, Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu, the Titular Mufti of Uganda paid tribute to Matovu’s character and musical contribution before turning his attention to the circumstances surrounding the musician’s death. Nakibinge called for a thorough investigation and justice for Matovu, while also using the occasion to caution security authorities against relying on fear.
Prince Nakibinge commended the police for arresting a suspect in the death of Moses Matovu. He urged the police to maintain the same commitment in handling cases and ensuring justice. His remarks came as police continued investigating Matovu’s death. Police have said Matovu was attacked in the Kibuli area and later died at Kibuli Hospital. Investigators have been working to establish exactly what happened before the fatal confrontation and identify those responsible.
Nakibinge urged the authorities to treat the investigation with urgency and ensure that whoever is responsible is brought to justice. Earlier, he had also joined other Muslim leaders and mourners at Kibuli Mosque for prayers for the musician. Reports from the funeral prayers said Nakibinge described Matovu as a man whose humility and discipline provided lessons for younger artistes.
Minsa Kabanda pays tribute
Kampala Minister Hajjat Minsa Kabanda also joined the mourners, representing government and the city leadership at the final farewell. Kabanda described Matovu’s death as a major loss to Kampala and Uganda’s cultural sector, noting that his music had crossed generations and social boundaries.
She paid tribute to the veteran artiste for remaining committed to his craft for decades and for helping place Kampala at the centre of Uganda’s live-music tradition. Kabanda also joined calls for the preservation of Matovu’s legacy, particularly through supporting musicians and cultural institutions that keep Uganda’s traditional and contemporary music alive. Her presence at the funeral underlined the public significance of Matovu’s contribution beyond the entertainment industry.
Afrigo vows to continue
For Afrigo Band, however, Friday marked not only the burial of its founder but also the beginning of a new chapter. Members of the band told mourners that although Matovu was irreplaceable, Afrigo would continue with the work he spent decades building. “We have lost someone irreplaceable. But I want to assure you that Afrigo Band is still here, and we will continue to keep his legacy alive,” the band said.
Matovu helped establish Afrigo Band in 1975 and remained its central figure for five decades. The group survived changing musical tastes, political upheavals, economic challenges and the departure or death of several of its members.
Among the musicians who passed through Afrigo’s ranks was singer Rachel Magoola, who joined the band in the late 1980s and became one of its best-known voices. Magoola, who was visibly emotional following Matovu’s death, remembered him as a mentor whose influence extended beyond the stage.
Her musical journey with Afrigo became part of the band’s wider story of nurturing new talent. She performed alongside Matovu during the band’s golden-jubilee celebrations in 2025, when Afrigo marked 50 years in music. Matovu’s influence on younger musicians was repeatedly highlighted by mourners. The band became a training ground for performers including Joanita Kawalya, Rachel Magoola, Herman Ssewanyana, Frank Mbalire and Sammy Kasule, among others.
Six decades of music
Born in 1949, Matovu’s musical career began in the 1960s. Before Afrigo, he performed with the Thunderbirds Band, Uganda Police Band and Cranes Band. Following the collapse of Cranes Band, Matovu and fellow musicians established Afrigo in 1975. He became the band’s leader, saxophonist, vocalist and composer, eventually turning Afrigo into one of Uganda’s longest-running live musical groups.
His catalogue included songs such as Nantongo, Silina Anantwaala, Teri Mubi, Emiziro, Genda Osome and Afrigo Batuuse. The band’s music drew from jazz, Congolese rumba, funk and Ugandan musical traditions, with songs that became part of Uganda’s social memory. In 2025, Afrigo celebrated its 50th anniversary, with Matovu still performing alongside younger musicians. The golden-jubilee concert featured veterans including Matovu, Magoola and Joanita Kawalya performing some of Afrigo’s enduring classics.
Tributes pour in
Media personalities and cultural figures also joined the national mourning. Journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo described Matovu as one of Uganda’s great musical figures, highlighting his ability to sustain one band for more than half a century. Robert Kabushenga, reflecting on Matovu alongside theatre icon Alex Mukulu, described their deaths as the closing of a pioneering chapter in Uganda’s creative arts.
He recalled Matovu’s memorable performances with international stars, including Lucky Dube and Cameroonian jazz giant Manu Dibango. Kabushenga particularly remembered Matovu’s appearance alongside Dibango in Kampala, when the two performed Hugh Masekela’s Grazing in the Grass. “Now both of them are gone. Just like that. Anyway, Mukulu and Matovu, thank you for the music. Now rest in peace,” Kabushenga wrote.
Former artistes and fans also took to social media to remember Matovu. Sylvia Damalie Owori described him as a “legendary musician and pillar of Uganda’s cultural heritage”, praising his talent and contribution to Afrigo Band. She also called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his death and for justice if wrongdoing is established.
Matovu’s death has left Uganda mourning not simply a musician, but an institution. For more than 50 years, his saxophone helped define the Afrigo sound, while his leadership enabled generations of musicians to find a place on Uganda’s live-music stage. As the final notes of his career fell silent in Kyanja, his colleagues pledged that Afrigo would continue. The challenge now is to ensure that the institution he built survives the man who made it synonymous with Uganda’s musical heritage.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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