Vincent Arnold Nsamba, the man accused of fatally assaulting veteran Afrigo Band leader Moses Matovu, has been remanded to Luzira Upper Prison as detectives continue digging into the circumstances surrounding the musician’s death.
Nsamba, 47, also known as Sitenda, appeared before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where he was formally charged with murder and remanded until November 3, 2026.
The court appearance marked a major development in the investigation into the death of Matovu, the long-serving leader of Afrigo Band, who died last Thursday after sustaining serious injuries during an early-morning confrontation at Kibuli Market Zone B in Makindye Division, Kampala.
Nsamba appeared composed in the dock as the murder charge was read to him. He told the court that he had heard and understood the charge.
However, Senior Magistrate Aidah Nanjala cautioned him against making any further comments because the magistrate’s court does not have jurisdiction to try a capital offence such as murder.
The magistrate also informed Nsamba of his right to apply for bail before the High Court and indicated that state-provided legal representation would be available during the proceedings. He was subsequently remanded to Luzira Upper Prison until November 3, when the matter will return to the Makindye court for mention.
Rose back to CID
While Nsamba was being taken to Luzira, Rose Tumusiime, the woman who was reportedly with Matovu shortly before the fatal confrontation, was brought to court but was not charged.
Instead, security officers took her back into custody for further interrogation at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters in Kibuli.
The decision to return Tumusiime to CID underscores the fact that detectives are still treating her as an important witness and person of interest as they reconstruct the events that preceded Matovu’s death. Police have not charged Tumusiime with murder or any other offence.
Her presence at court, followed by her return to investigators, therefore does not amount to a criminal conviction or a finding that she participated in Matovu’s killing.
Police have previously said Tumusiime is assisting detectives in establishing what happened before, during and after the confrontation.
Investigators have been particularly interested in the relationship between Tumusiime and Nsamba and the circumstances in which Matovu came to be at her residence in the early hours of Thursday.
The fateful morning
Preliminary police findings indicate that Matovu went to Tumusiime’s residence in the Kibuli area at about 5:30am.
According to investigators, Matovu and Tumusiime were leaving the residence when they were confronted by Nsamba, who police said had previously been in a relationship with the woman.
A physical confrontation reportedly followed.
Police investigations indicate that Matovu intervened after Nsamba allegedly confronted Tumusiime. During the confrontation, Nsamba allegedly struck Matovu, causing him to collapse.
The veteran musician sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Kibuli Hospital by a boda boda rider, but later died.
Police have continued to emphasise that the precise circumstances surrounding the confrontation and Matovu’s death are still being established.
Nsamba: ‘I did not intend to kill him’
As detectives reconstructed the crime scene, Nsamba reportedly gave investigators his account of what happened.
During the reconstruction, he reportedly admitted punching Matovu but denied intending to kill him. “I boxed him and he fell down. But I did not intend to kill him,” Nsamba reportedly told investigators.
In another account reported after the reconstruction, Nsamba said Matovu appeared weak and staggered before falling near his vehicle.
He reportedly told investigators that when Matovu fell, blood began coming from his head and he feared that he had died. He then left the scene and went to his home in Nansana.
These accounts are part of the evidence investigators are expected to test against witness statements, medical findings, forensic evidence and other material gathered from the scene.
Crime scene reconstruction
The investigation took another dramatic turn last week when detectives returned Nsamba and Tumusiime to Kibuli for a reconstruction of the events.
A joint security operation involving the Uganda Police Force, UPDF and Flying Squad cordoned off Kibuli Depot and Market Zone B as homicide detectives retraced the movements of the suspects and Matovu.
The reconstruction involved both Nsamba and Tumusiime, with detectives seeking to establish precisely where the confrontation occurred and how the fatal injuries were inflicted.
Police said the exercise was intended to obtain additional evidence.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Rachael Kawala said the suspects had been taken back to the scene to help investigators establish the facts.
“The investigations are still ongoing,” Kawala said, adding that police were working to establish what happened. Detectives also searched Nsamba’s home in Nansana after his arrest.
According to police reports, investigators recovered the clothes he allegedly wore on the day Matovu was attacked. The search formed part of efforts to gather forensic and other evidence that could help investigators reconstruct the incident.
How Nsamba was arrested
After the attack, Nsamba reportedly fled the scene. Police mounted a search for him, eventually tracing him to a hideout in Nansana, Wakiso district.
His arrest followed the detention of his mother, who investigators reportedly used to trace his whereabouts.
The arrest ended a brief manhunt and enabled detectives to begin interrogating him about the circumstances surrounding Matovu’s death.
Why Rose remains central to the investigation
Tumusiime remains an important figure in the investigation because she was reportedly with Matovu immediately before the confrontation and was also at the centre of the relationship dispute investigators are examining.
Police have said she had previously been in a relationship with Nsamba. According to accounts cited by investigators, the confrontation arose after Nsamba encountered Matovu and Tumusiime as they left her residence.
Detectives therefore need to establish the nature of the relationships involved, what happened inside the house before the confrontation, whether there was any prior threat or altercation and what Tumusiime witnessed immediately before and after Matovu was attacked.
Her return to CID after appearing in court indicates that investigators believe more information is required before deciding whether she should face any charges or remain solely a witness in the case. The police have not publicly accused her of killing Matovu.
Justice for Matovu
Matovu’s death has shocked Uganda’s music fraternity and generated widespread calls for justice.
The 77-year-old musician was one of the most recognisable figures in Uganda’s live music history and a central figure in Afrigo Band, whose career stretched across generations.
His death came just days before he was due to continue performing and engaging with colleagues and fans.
He has since been laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kyanja, Kampala, as family, fellow musicians and fans mourn the veteran performer. For detectives, however, the investigation is far from over.
Nsamba’s remand places the murder case formally before court, but the continued detention and interrogation of Tumusiime shows that investigators are still working to establish the full chain of events.
The evidence gathered from the crime scene, witness accounts, forensic examinations, medical findings and statements from the suspects will ultimately determine the next steps.
For now, Nsamba remains an accused person who is presumed innocent until proved guilty, while Tumusiime remains uncharged as police continue investigating her role as a key witness and person of interest in the circumstances surrounding Matovu’s death.
Author Profile
- Mr. Stephen Kasozi Muwambi is a seasoned crime investigative writer, majoring in judicial-based stories. His two decades’ experience as a senior investigative journalist has made him one of the best to reckon on in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected]
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