By Joseph Mary Buwule
KAMPALA- Thousands of mourners, music lovers, friends, relatives, Ugandan musicians, cultural figures and government officials have gathered in Kyanja, Kampala, to pay their final respects to veteran musician and Afrigo Band legend Moses Matovu Bukenya, popularly known as Papa Moi, whose death has left Uganda’s music fraternity in deep mourning.
The emotional send-off at Kyanja brought together people from different generations who came to celebrate the life and contribution of one of the country’s most enduring figures in live-band music.
Matovu, aged 77, died on Thursday, September 24, 2026, after sustaining serious injuries in an attack at Kibuli Market Zone B in Makindye Division, Kampala. He was rushed to Kibuli Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Police have opened a murder investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala said investigators were working to establish what happened and identify those responsible.
His death came as a shock to the Ugandan music industry, particularly because Matovu remained closely associated with Afrigo Band and Uganda’s live-music tradition for decades.
A SEA OF MOURNERS IN KYANJA
From the early hours of Friday, mourners began making their way to Kyanja, turning the area into a major gathering point for Uganda’s entertainment and cultural community.
Music lovers arrived from different parts of Kampala and beyond, many carrying memories of Matovu’s performances and Afrigo Band’s music.
The gathering included fellow musicians, former band members, friends, relatives, cultural leaders, government representatives and ordinary fans who had followed Afrigo Band throughout its long musical journey.
For many mourners, the occasion was more than a funeral. It was a celebration of a musician whose career became intertwined with the history of Uganda’s modern entertainment industry.
The atmosphere combined grief with music, memories and tributes as colleagues and fans reflected on Matovu’s contribution to generations of Ugandan musicians.
GOVERNMENT JOINS THE FINAL SEND-OFF
The Government of Uganda also took part in the arrangements for Matovu’s final send-off.
According to reports, government took over responsibility for aspects of the funeral arrangements as the country prepared to lay the veteran musician to rest. His son, Musa Kamoga, announced that government would oversee the final arrangements.
The involvement of government officials reflected the national significance attached to Matovu’s contribution to Uganda’s cultural and music industry.
Matovu’s death has generated widespread tributes from across Uganda, with musicians and cultural figures remembering him as a major figure in the development and survival of live-band music.
THE FINAL JOURNEY BEGAN IN KIBULI
Matovu’s final journey began on Thursday following his death at Kibuli Hospital.
Muslim funeral prayers, known as Swalat Janaza, were held at Kibuli, where hundreds of mourners gathered to pray for the deceased.
Among those who joined the prayers were prominent cultural and religious figures, including Buganda Kingdom Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga, his deputy Professor Twaha Kawase Kigongo and other kingdom officials and ministers.
From Kibuli, mourners proceeded to the National Theatre, a venue strongly associated with Uganda’s performing arts community.
A vigil was subsequently held in Kyanja as family members, musicians, friends and fans gathered ahead of the burial.
According to the funeral programme released by Afrigo Band, Matovu was scheduled to be buried in Kyanja on Friday, September 25, at 4pm.
A LIFE DEVOTED TO MUSIC
Moses Matovu was born on June 19, 1949, in Kawempe, Kampala, to Abdallah Bukenya bin Adam and Solome Nakitto.
His journey in music began in the 1960s. He initially performed with the Thunderbirds Band before moving to the Police Band and later the Cranes Band.
Following the collapse of the Cranes Band, Matovu and fellow musicians established Afrigo Band in the mid-1970s.
The group went on to become one of Uganda’s longest-running and most influential live bands.
Matovu served as a vocalist, saxophonist, composer, arranger and band leader, becoming one of the most recognisable faces of Uganda’s live-band tradition.
His career spanned nearly six decades, allowing him to perform before several generations of Ugandans and audiences outside the country.
AFRIGO BAND AND A MUSICAL LEGACY
Afrigo Band became a major institution in Uganda’s entertainment history.
The band celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, marking five decades of performances and musical influence.
Matovu was central to that journey.
Through Afrigo Band, he helped preserve and popularise live-band music at a time when Uganda’s entertainment industry was undergoing major changes.
His saxophone performances, vocals, compositions and leadership became closely associated with the band’s identity.
Colleagues and music historians have described him as a musician who helped sustain live-band culture and mentored successive generations of performers.
His contribution extended beyond performing. He was also known for discipline and leadership within the band and for maintaining the band’s identity over many years.
MUSIC LOVERS REMEMBER PAPA MOI
For the thousands gathered in Kyanja, however, Matovu was not simply a historical figure.
To many fans, he was Papa Moi, the performer whose music formed part of their lives.
Some mourners recalled attending Afrigo Band performances with their parents, while younger fans spoke of discovering the band’s music through older generations.
His death therefore brought together several generations of Ugandans.
The tributes demonstrated the unusual reach of his career: from older music lovers who watched Afrigo Band in its early years to younger audiences who continued to enjoy the band’s performances decades later.
A SHOCKING END TO A LONG CAREER
The circumstances of Matovu’s death have added another layer of sadness to the mourning.
Police confirmed that he was attacked in the early hours of Thursday at Kibuli Market Zone B in Makindye Division and later died at Kibuli Hospital. Investigators have been working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify the person or people responsible.
Police have urged the public to remain calm as investigations continue.
Because the investigation is ongoing, details surrounding the incident remain subject to police verification and further investigation.
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY MOURNS
Ugandan artists have joined the country in mourning a musician whose influence extended across the entertainment industry.
For many musicians, Matovu represented an earlier generation of performers who built careers around live instrumentation, band discipline and long-term relationships with audiences.
His passing has consequently reopened conversations about Uganda’s musical heritage and the importance of preserving the country’s history of live performance.
Afrigo Band itself remains one of the country’s most recognised musical institutions, and Matovu’s name is inseparable from much of its history.
A CULTURAL ICON LAID TO REST
As the funeral proceedings moved toward the burial in Kyanja, the crowds reflected the extraordinary impact Matovu had on Uganda’s cultural landscape.
The presence of musicians, government officials, cultural leaders, family members, friends and thousands of ordinary music lovers demonstrated the breadth of his influence.
For nearly six decades, Moses Matovu gave his voice, saxophone and leadership to Ugandan music.
He witnessed enormous changes in the country’s entertainment industry, survived changing musical tastes and remained connected to Afrigo Band across generations.
Now, as Uganda bids him farewell, the music industry loses one of its longest-serving figures.
Moses Matovu Bukenya may be gone, but the music, memories and legacy associated with his name and Afrigo Band will remain part of Uganda’s cultural history.
He was laid to rest in Kyanja on Friday, September 25, 2026.