CDF Gen.Muhoozi Kainerugaba commends security forces after arrest of prime suspect in Moses Matovu murder
NATIONAL
Kampala,Uganda | Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has commended security forces operating under the country’s inter-agency security architecture for the swift arrest of a prime suspect in the murder of legendary Afrigo Band musician Moses Matovu.
The CDF thanked the various security agencies involved in the operation after the suspect, identified as Nsamba Arnold, also known as Sitenda, was apprehended and placed in custody.
According to the statement, Nsamba will face the law as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the death of the veteran musician.
The development comes barely a day after the death of Matovu, whose killing sent shockwaves across Uganda’s music and cultural fraternity.
Moses Matovu killed in early-morning attack
Matovu, aged 77, died on Thursday, September 24, 2026, after sustaining serious injuries during an early-morning confrontation in Kibuli Market Zone B, Makindye Division, Kampala.
Police initially reported that Matovu had been attacked by unknown assailants before he was rushed to Kibuli Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Preliminary police investigations later indicated that Matovu had been at a woman’s residence at about 5:30am when he and the woman allegedly encountered a man who had previously been in a relationship with her. Police said a physical confrontation followed, leaving Matovu seriously injured. Investigators cautioned that the full circumstances surrounding the confrontation were still being established.
The arrest of the alleged prime suspect marks a major development in the investigation, although the suspect remains subject to due process and the allegations against him will have to be tested through the criminal justice system.
A giant of Uganda’s live music
Matovu was one of the founding figures of Afrigo Band, one of Uganda’s longest-running and most influential live musical groups.
He began his musical journey in the 1960s, performing with the Thunderbirds Band before joining the Police Band and later the Cranes Band. Following the collapse of the Cranes Band, Matovu and fellow musicians established Afrigo Band in 1975.
For decades, he served as the band’s leader, saxophonist, vocalist and composer, becoming one of the most recognisable faces of Uganda’s live-band tradition.
His career spanned nearly six decades, during which Afrigo became a major institution in Uganda’s entertainment industry and helped preserve and popularise live-band music for successive generations.
Matovu’s death has therefore been widely described as a major loss to Uganda’s music and cultural heritage.
The CDF’s appreciation of the security agencies highlights the coordinated effort that followed the killing, with intelligence, police and other security teams involved in tracing the suspect.
The authorities have reiterated that investigations will continue to establish the complete circumstances surrounding Matovu’s death and gather evidence required for prosecution.
The arrest has also provided some progress for Matovu’s family, colleagues and thousands of fans who have been demanding answers following the shocking killing.
As investigations proceed, security authorities say the suspect will be subjected to the law, with the judicial process expected to determine responsibility for the death of one of Uganda’s most celebrated musical legends.
Matovu is scheduled to be laid to rest in Kyanja on September 25, 2026, according to reports.
