By Johannah Nantongo
KAMPALA — Vincent Arnold Nsamba, the suspect in the killing of veteran musician and Afrigo Band founding member Moses Matovu, has been remanded by the Makindye Magistrates Court as investigations into the case continue.
Nsamba appeared before the court and was charged with murder. He will remain on remand until November 3, 2026, when the case is expected to return to court for mention as the prosecution continues preparing its case.
Matovu died on September 24, 2026, after reportedly sustaining serious injuries during an incident in Kibuli, Kampala.
The 41-year-old Nsamba was arrested on the same day in Ochange Ward, Yesu Amala, Nansana Division, Wakiso District, following police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the musician’s death.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala said preliminary investigations indicated that Matovu had visited a woman identified as Rose at her residence at approximately 5:30am on September 24.
According to the police account, Matovu and the woman reportedly encountered a man believed to have previously been in a relationship with her as they were leaving the residence. A confrontation followed, although investigators were still working to establish the precise circumstances of the incident.
Matovu sustained serious injuries and was transported to Kibuli Hospital by a boda boda rider, but later died. Police subsequently registered the case as murder at Kabalagala Police Station.
Investigators also arrested the woman as part of the inquiry and reportedly recovered several exhibits from the scene, including a concrete paving block. Police further reported finding bloodstains covered with ash near Matovu’s vehicle.
Differing Accounts of the Incident
The circumstances surrounding Matovu’s death have attracted different accounts from public figures and police.
Government minister Balaam Barugahara condemned the killing and called for those responsible to face justice. However, his account indicated that Matovu had been attacked by a group of people while returning from work on the night of September 23.
Police, on the other hand, placed the reported confrontation at around 5:30am on September 24, as investigators continued to establish what happened.
Matovu’s Legacy in Uganda’s Music Industry
Matovu, popularly known as Papa Moi, was a prominent figure in Uganda’s music industry and a founding member of Afrigo Band, one of the country’s long-established musical groups.
The band was formed in Kampala on August 31, 1975, with Matovu working alongside Tony Ssenkebejje, Jef Sewava, Charles Ssekyanzi and Jessy Gitta.
Born in Kawempe on June 19, 1949, Matovu began his musical career in the 1960s. He performed with the Thunderbirds Band before joining the Police Band and later the Cranes Band, experiences that helped shape his musical journey.
Afrigo Band marked its 50th anniversary in 2025, celebrating five decades of its contribution to Uganda’s entertainment industry and Matovu’s role in its development.
The criminal proceedings against Nsamba remain ongoing, with the matter scheduled to return to Makindye Magistrates Court on November 3, 2026.