Police detectives investigating the death of veteran Afrigo Band musician Moses Matovu are intensifying interrogations of Rose Tumusiime, the woman who was with the 77-year-old musician shortly before he was fatally injured in Kibuli. The development follows the arrest of Vincent Nsamba, also identified in some police and security accounts as Arnold or Sitenda, who is being treated as the prime suspect in the killing.
Nsamba, 41, was arrested on Thursday evening in Ochange Ward, Yesu Amala, Nansana Division in Wakiso District, following a joint manhunt involving police intelligence and task-force teams. Police say he had fled the scene after the confrontation in which Matovu sustained fatal injuries. The arrest has shifted the investigation from identifying the attacker to reconstructing exactly what happened during the early-morning confrontation and establishing the circumstances that led to Matovu’s death.
Rose remains in police custody as detectives seek to establish the sequence of events leading to the assault. Police sources say her account is considered important because she was reportedly with Matovu immediately before the confrontation and is expected to help detectives establish whether Nsamba was the man involved in the fatal attack. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala said preliminary investigations indicate that Matovu went to Rose’s residence in Kibuli at about 5:30am on September 24.
According to the police account, Matovu and Rose were leaving the residence when they were confronted by a man believed to have previously been in a relationship with Rose. A physical confrontation followed, during which Matovu sustained serious injuries. He was rushed to Kibuli Hospital by a boda boda rider but later died. Kawala has stressed that police are still working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the confrontation. “The exact circumstances surrounding the confrontation, however, are yet to be fully established,” she said.
Rose’s account under scrutiny
Detectives are now expected to interrogate Rose further about her relationship with Nsamba, his movements before the confrontation and what happened inside and outside her rented premises. Investigators are also expected to establish whether Rose knew the man who confronted her and Matovu, and whether she can positively identify Nsamba as the person who allegedly attacked the musician.
Police had earlier reconstructed the crime scene for several hours, collecting evidence from the area where the confrontation occurred. Photographs from the scene showed Rose accompanying officers during the reconstruction, including at a window that was allegedly damaged during the scuffle. Police sources are also examining witness accounts suggesting that Nsamba had followed Rose and Matovu to the residence before the confrontation.
According to preliminary accounts cited by police, Matovu and Rose later walked towards the musician’s vehicle when the suspect allegedly confronted them. One witness told investigators that the man first assaulted Rose, prompting Matovu to intervene. The suspect allegedly turned on Matovu and struck him, causing him to fall and sustain serious injuries. A boda boda rider and residents then helped rush the injured musician to Kibuli Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Nsamba faces interrogation
With Nsamba now in custody, detectives are expected to question him about his movements on the night and morning of the incident, his relationship with Rose and his alleged presence at the Kibuli residence. Police will also seek to establish whether the injuries suffered by Matovu correspond with the accounts of the confrontation given by Rose and other witnesses.
The suspect was reportedly arrested in Nansana after intelligence-led operations traced his whereabouts. Uganda Police Force spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed the arrest in a brief social-media message, saying: “Suspect in police hands. Big up to our team! Details to follow.” Kawala said the task team had worked to trace the suspect after he allegedly fled the scene. “Our task team worked tirelessly to trace and apprehend the suspect who had fled the scene,” she said. Police have not yet publicly disclosed the full evidence against Nsamba, and the investigation is continuing.
Muhoozi welcomes arrest
Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba welcomed the arrest, commending security agencies involved in the manhunt. In a post on X, Muhoozi said the arrest was the result of cooperation among security agencies operating under the inter-agency security architecture.
“I want to thank all security forces, working under the inter-agency security architecture, for quickly apprehending the prime suspect in the murder of legendary musician Moses Matovu,” Muhoozi said. He identified the suspect as “Nsamba Arnold aka Sitenda” and added: “He will face the law and justice will be served.” The CDF’s statement came hours after the arrest and as detectives continued interrogating people who may help establish the events surrounding Matovu’s final moments.
Ugandans demand answers
The arrest has generated widespread reaction among Ugandans, particularly musicians, fans and people who knew Matovu during his long career with Afrigo Band. Matovu, one of Uganda’s most celebrated musicians and saxophonists, died after more than five decades in the music industry. His death has shocked the entertainment fraternity, with musicians, cultural leaders, government officials and ordinary Ugandans mourning the veteran performer.
The circumstances of his death have also attracted intense public interest because the fatal confrontation occurred shortly after he had visited Rose’s residence. Police, however, have cautioned that the investigation is not complete. The arrest of Nsamba is therefore a major breakthrough in the manhunt, but it does not by itself establish criminal guilt. Investigators must still assemble evidence, complete interrogations and present the case through the courts.
For detectives, Rose’s account could be crucial in establishing the identity of the man who allegedly confronted her and Matovu, while Nsamba’s interrogation could help investigators establish what happened before, during and after the confrontation. Police are also expected to rely on witness statements, forensic evidence and the reconstruction of the crime scene as they piece together the final moments of the Afrigo Band icon. Nsamba is expected to face court proceedings as police continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding Matovu’s death.
Author Profile
- Mr. Jacko David Waluluka is another unique entertainment and general investigative news writer, a field he has diligently covered for over fifteen years. He’s also the Chief Administrator at The Investigator. He can easily be reached via [email protected]
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