Saxophonist Isaiah Katumwa has paid tribute to late Afrigo Band leader Moses Matovu, describing him as a pioneer, mentor and one of the figures who helped lay the foundation for Uganda’s modern music industry.
Katumwa, reflecting on Matovu’s death, said the veteran musician’s influence extended beyond his performances, noting that his discipline, consistency and commitment to music provided an example for generations of Ugandan artistes.
“I received the news of Moses Matovu’s passing with a very heavy heart,” Katumwa said.
“To me, Moses was far more than one of Uganda’s greatest musicians. He was a pioneer, a mentor, an inspiration, and one of the people whose life helped many of us believe that a serious, lasting music career was possible here in Uganda.”
Katumwa said Matovu’s career demonstrated that musicians could build sustainable professional lives around their craft.
“Long before many of us found our own place in this industry, Moses had already helped create the path,” he said. “Through his musicianship, his discipline, his consistency across decades, and his love for the craft, he became part of the very foundation on which generations of Ugandan musicians have stood.”Katumwa added that Matovu’s example had personally influenced his own journey as a musician.
“On a personal level, his journey inspired mine. As a young musician finding my way, I looked at people like Moses, and I saw proof that an African musician could dedicate his whole life to the art and be respected for it. That example meant more than he may ever have known,” he said.
Katumwa said Matovu’s legacy should be considered in the context of his decades of contribution to Ugandan music rather than solely through the circumstances surrounding his death.
“It is difficult to speak of a life of such significance only in the context of the circumstances in which it ended. I choose instead to remember the decades that came before that final moment — the music, the stages, the lives touched, the musicians encouraged, and the quiet ways he shaped our industry,” he said.
Katumwa described Matovu’s death as a loss not only to his family and colleagues but also to the wider Ugandan music community.
“Uganda has lost an icon. Our music industry has lost one of its great pillars. And many of us have lost someone we regarded as an elder, a big brother in music,” he said.
“Moses, thank you for the music. Thank you for the road you helped build for those of us who came after you. Your contribution will live far beyond this moment, and your name will remain written permanently in the story of Ugandan music. May your soul rest in eternal peace,” Katumwa stressed.
Moses Matovu began his professional music career as a vocalist with the Thunderbirds Band in 1967 before joining the Police Band in 1968 and the Cranes Band in 1969. He later helped establish Afrigo Band, which became synonymous with Uganda’s live-band scene.
Matovu aged 77, spent more than five decades in music and was a central figure in the development of Uganda’s live-band tradition.He was a singer, songwriter, saxophonist, flautist and bandleader, and was a founding figure of Afrigo Band.
Afrigo Band was established in the 1970s and went on to become Uganda’s longest-standing musical ensemble. Its sound drew from Congolese rumba, jazz, funk and Ugandan musical traditions, while its performances and recordings helped establish band music as an important part of the country’s popular culture.
The band’s longevity has been widely attributed to its ability to recruit and develop new talent while maintaining its musical identity.
