Then Amin staged a coup and was later evicted from power. Accordingly, he was also removed from Uganda’s first brick and mortar WhatsApp group, the Uganda Club. Being established as an answer or counterpoint to the all-British, all-White Kampala Club, which was a remnant of the colonial era, the Uganda Club symbolised a move towards Ugandan self-determination and social gathering for the new African leadership. It was there, between 1981 and 1986 that Samuel Seruwagi Matte served as catering manager. Charles Mwiyeretsi, father to the media personality Denzel Mwiyeretsi, also worked at the prestigious Uganda Club.
Socialising
Matte would see history unfolding right before his very eyes. There he saw for the first time David Oyite Ojok, who held the rank of Major General and served as the Army Chief of Staff of the Uganda National Liberation Army. Matte says, Gen Ojok would smoke and drink his five beers daily from the Uganda Club. He would often sit alone; many would keep a safe distance from the man variously known as the Lion of Uganda and the Lion of Africa. Ojok always seemed to be consumed by deep thoughts as he consumed his beer, Matte observed.
Matte’s recollections of Mr Yoweri Museveni during the same period were strikingly different. By his account, Mr Museveni was almost always jolly. Frequently accompanied by his bodyguards, the man who would later become the country’s ninth president often turned up at the Uganda Club with a ready sense of humour, engaging easily in the banter shared among members. He was no mere good-time Charlie, however. He preferred the fleeting remark to glad-handing, cordial to everyone, yet deeply conversational with no one. While many soldiers appeared slovenly dressed, Mr Museveni was invariably smart. Like Alexander the Great, his careful attention to dress seemed deliberate, using attire as a political tool to project authority, power, and influence.
His biography
Matte shared these recollections and others in his biography Five-Star, written by Mr Denis Nabende. The ink was not even dry on the last page of the book before Matte passed away, leaving behind a rich legacy and a well written book that seeks to remind Ugandans how service to the country is more important than anything else. ‘Today, I write not just in grief, but in deep gratitude for the extraordinary life of Samuel Seruwagi Matte, a devoted father, a visionary hotelier, a faithful servant of his community, and a pillar of his family. My first encounter with him happened in August 2024, when I was introduced to him by his son, Steven Kavuma,’ says Mr Nabende. ‘Sam wanted someone who could help organise his lived experience into something readable. Something for posterity. And, I was the one assigned with that task. His story, I found, was a voyage through time, replete with lessons.’
Who was he?
Born in 1947 amid the turbulence of the Bataka uprisings in Masooli-Kitetika,Matte’s life was forged in resilience from the very beginning. Orphaned at five by the untimely death of his father, the esteemed Chief Abiasali Matte, he was raised by his grandfather, Mesach Sajjabi, another distinguished leader, who instilled in him the values of integrity, discipline, and quiet strength. Matte’s journey was marked by perseverance. After overcoming early academic setbacks, he excelled at Makerere College School, where he distinguished himself not only as a scholar but as an undefeated lawn tennis champion. His potential caught the eye of mentors, who guided him toward a government scholarship to study Hotel Management in the United Kingdom, an opportunity that would define his professional legacy.
Returning to Uganda in 1971 as one of the nation’s first formally trained hoteliers, Matte dedicated his life to elevating Uganda’s hospitality industry. He began as trainee assistant manager at Paraa Safari Lodge, and within a few years, held managerial roles at Lira Hotel, Rwenzori Tea Hotel, Hotel Margherita, and Mount Moroto Hotel, often in the most challenging of circumstances. Even in remote Karamoja, where water was scarce and war loomed, Matte’s ingenuity turned hardship into triumph: he engineered a borehole that sustained not only the hotel but the entire town. In 1981, he took on the prestigious role of catering manager at the Uganda Club, serving presidents, dignitaries, and diplomats with unmatched professionalism and grace. Later, in the private sector, he brought his exacting standards to establishments like Blacklines Hotel and Bativa Hotel, transforming them through mentorship, systems, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
A man of profound faith
Beyond his career, Matte was a man of profound faith and family devotion. He served as parish treasurer for Masooli Church of Uganda for 20 years, quietly stewarding resources and nurturing spiritual communities. At home, he was a loving husband to Joselyn, a wise and gentle father to his children, and a joyful grandfather to many. In his will, he appointed Mr Kavuma as his principal and customary heir (omusika), a testament to the trust and legacy he placed in the next generation.
Matte battled prostate cancer with courage and dignity, never losing his humour, hope, or generosity. His soon-to-be-published biography, Five-Star, stands as his final gift, a rich tapestry of memory, wisdom, and love. In this book, he reminds us of the people we must become if Uganda is to rise to its fullest potential. Evidently, Matte was a masterclass on purpose. He turned every challenge into opportunity, every role into service, and every moment into meaning. While his voice, stories, and steadfast presence will be sorely missed, his legacy will shine brightly.