Moses Matovu: The Footballer behind a Music Icon

When the name Moses Matovu is mentioned in Uganda, music is almost inevitably what comes to mind. For decades, he was synonymous with Afrigo Band, one of the country’s most enduring musical institutions. Yet before music became his lifelong calling, football played a defining role in shaping the journey that eventually led him to the stage. To understand Matovu the musician, therefore, it is important to begin with Matovu the footballer.

Moses Matovu was born on 19 June 1949 in Kampala to Solome Nakito and Abdallah Bukenya. His parents did not live together, and during his early childhood he stayed with his mother in Mengo. There, he began his education at Namirembe Primary School and completed Primary One.

Around the same time, his father was involved in an accident and became bedridden for some time. His paternal family subsequently asked that Matovu move closer to his ailing father, who was living in Kibuli. He therefore transferred to Kibuli Demonstration Primary School, where he continued from Primary Two until completing primary education. He then joined Kibuli Junior Secondary School for Junior One and Junior Two before enrolling at Pillai’s Senior Secondary School, an Indian-owned institution, from Senior One onwards.

Matovu and his two sisters had earlier benefited from Buganda Kingdom bursaries, which supported their education. However, by 1966, he had reached Senior Three when the political crisis between Dr Apollo Milton Obote and Sir Edward Muteesa II culminated in the abolition of kingdoms. With the kingdom bursaries discontinued, Matovu’s formal education came to an end. He subsequently turned his attention fully towards football.

Football, however, was not new to him. During his years at Kibuli Demonstration Primary School and Kibuli Junior Secondary School, he had already represented the school teams. His transition into competitive football was therefore a natural continuation of an interest that had taken root during his school days.

In the late 1960s, Matovu joined Nakivubo Boys, at a time when the side was still largely informal and competing in the lower divisions, while maintaining its historical links as a feeder side to Express FC. His time at Nakivubo Boys was intermittent. During those periods away, he had short stints with Lint Marketing Board, commonly known as Lint FC, and also featured for Fiat FC, a side owned by an Italian spare-parts company that competed in the lower divisions.

By then, the traditional relationship between Nakivubo Boys and Express had weakened. Jolly Kiwanuka, the owner of Express, was embroiled in political difficulties, making the connection between the two sides less influential. Nakivubo Boys consequently became something of a holding ground for young players who would eventually seek opportunities elsewhere.

One such opportunity came when Edrisah Kitaka spotted Matovu at training and encouraged him to attend Express sessions. He impressed and earned an opportunity to train with the club. Breaking into the first team, however, was far from straightforward. Express already possessed established names such as goalkeeper Joseph Masajjage, Ibrahim “British” Dafala, Jimmy “Omulogo” Ssewava, John Kitanda, Jogoo Francis, Ali Kitonsa, Alex Oundo and Charles Jjagwe, among others.

Football regulations at the time were also considerably less restrictive than they are today. Many Express players were employed elsewhere, and some were unable to attend matches because of their work commitments. This created opportunities for young players like Matovu, who were often kept on standby and called upon when established players were unavailable.

Matovu consequently made several appearances for Express, predominantly as a right winger. He was not particularly imposing physically, but compensated with intelligence, technique and an understanding of the game. His ability was also reflected in the trust placed in him to take the team’s corner kicks.

Nevertheless, with such a well-established squad, regular opportunities remained difficult to secure. Matovu eventually left Express and moved to Police FC, largely through the influence of coach Okabo, who was also a Senior Superintendent of Police at the time.

His experience at Police, however, presented another obstacle. Civilians were not permitted to play for the club, meaning players had to obtain police numbers through a training programme known as the “Radio Section”. By the time Matovu arrived, the programme had already been running for approximately six months, making it difficult for him to catch up.

What appeared to be a setback ultimately became a turning point. Matovu informed Coach Okabo that, alongside football, he possessed considerable musical talent. Police did not only have a football section; it also had a music section and a police band. Matovu was therefore directed to the Police Band, where his professional music journey began.

The music director quickly recognised his exceptional talent and developed a strong liking for him. Yet football remained difficult for Matovu to abandon. Whenever he could get away, he found opportunities to play, something that increasingly frustrated the music director. Eventually, Matovu left the Police Band and returned to football, this time joining White Nile FC, another club owned by Express proprietor Jolly Kiwanuka.

Even at White Nile, however, the conflict between his two passions continued. Matovu played football while maintaining his involvement in music, and on numerous occasions he was reportedly pulled away from musical performances to fulfil football commitments.

Ultimately, he was forced to choose between the two. In 1975, Matovu chose music. Alongside other musicians, he helped establish Afrigo Band, the institution with which his name would become inseparably associated for decades and which continues to exist to this day.

Although he left football behind professionally, his love for the game never disappeared. While Express remained the club with which he was more directly associated as a footballer, Matovu later developed a strong affinity for SC Villa, despite never playing for the club. His relationship with the Jogoos deepened over the years, eventually extending beyond that of a supporter.

At one point, Matovu served in the role of Player Welfare at SC Villa. During the club’s golden years, Afrigo Band regularly entertained the Jogoos following title triumphs throughout the 1980s and 1990s, becoming part of the celebrations surrounding one of Uganda’s most successful football eras.

His connection with SC Villa endured for decades. He remained a close contributor to the club and, until his death, was a serving member of the SC Villa Board of Trustees.

Moses Matovu’s story therefore extends far beyond the music for which he became nationally celebrated. Football shaped his formative years, opened doors, presented setbacks and ultimately led him to the musical path that defined his legacy. Yet even after choosing music, he never truly left football behind.

Matovu’s life reflected an enduring bond between two passions that shaped the man Uganda came to know.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

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