Moses Matovu: the gift that kept giving

What the report says

The Observer published an appreciation of Moses Matovu, the Ugandan musician described in the piece as one of the country’s most enduring figures and a central force behind Afrigo Band. The article frames him as more than a star performer, crediting him with helping build a musical legacy that lasted for decades and shaped Ugandan popular music.

According to the report, Matovu died on September 24. It says he was a Muslim who also sang in Namirembe Cathedral choir, and later balanced music with football, including spells with Police FC and Express FC. His early professional path is traced from the Thunderbirds and Police Jazz Band to Cranes Band, where he learned and developed the saxophone before co-founding Afrigo in 1975.

The Observer says Matovu was a key songwriter and leader for Afrigo, with classic songs including Nantongo, Sirina Anantwala, Afrigo Batuuse I, Speed and others. The article also highlights the band’s survival through political upheaval, lineup changes and the departure or death of many members, while Matovu remained its constant figure. It notes that he was offered a chance to join Congolese legend Franco Luambo’s band in Brussels but stayed with Afrigo instead.

More broadly, the piece presents Matovu as a symbol of professionalism, consistency and longevity in Uganda’s live-band era, and places his career in the context of a music industry that changed dramatically over time.