#OutToLunch: Moses Matovu defined music. Others must posthumously learn from him

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion piece by Denis Jjuuko reflecting on the reported killing of Moses Matovu in Kibuli last Thursday. The writer, who says he knew Matovu mainly through occasional interviews and event work with Afrigo Band, describes him as calm, disciplined and central to the group’s long-running success. The article uses Matovu’s death as a prompt to revisit his legacy in Ugandan music rather than to report new facts about the killing itself.

According to the piece, Matovu, also known as Papa Moi, was part of Afrigo Band for decades and helped guide it through difficult periods in Uganda’s history, including the violence and instability of the 1970s and early 1980s. The writer notes that the band lost equipment and some colleagues during that era but continued performing. He also points to Afrigo’s 50th-anniversary celebration in August last year at Millennium Grounds in Lugogo as evidence of the group’s durability.

The commentary argues that Afrigo’s longevity came not only from Matovu’s musical talent but also from professionalism, internal discipline and original songs. It contrasts the band with many newer groups that, in the author’s view, struggle to stay together or rely heavily on covers. The piece suggests Matovu’s death raises questions about succession and preservation in Uganda’s live-band scene, while stressing that his influence should be studied even after his passing.