This year, three sportsmen have been murdered in cold blood. In May, Sydney Gongodyo, the rugby forward with Stanbic Black Pirates and Uganda Rugby Cranes died at the hands of a mob in Ntinda. Last month, SC Villa captain David Owori succumbed to his injuries after being attacked by a group of thugs in Makindye on his way back home. Sadly, another Jogoo family member, legendary Afrigo Band leader, Moses Matovu, affectionately known as Papa Moi by his adoring music fans, passed away today after being attacked in Kibuli. He was 77 years old.
Two names stand out prominently in Kibuli. Prince Kassim Nakibinge comes top. As the titular head of Muslims aligned to Kibuli, he is respected all over the place, and his word on all affairs in Kibuli is usually final.
Matovu comes next. As the leader and face of Afrigo Band, he also ranks high in football circles. This is because as a youth, Matovu was a footballer in the 1960s and early 1970s, featuring for clubs like Kibuli United, Nakivubo Boys, Express FC, Police FC and Buganda Pronvince. Later on, when Nakivubo Boys gave birth to SC Villa, the most successful football side in Uganda’s history, Matovu switched allegiance to the Jogoos.
Kibuli and Villa are basically the same. Being a ‘lifetime’ resident of Kibuli, probably the proximity to Villa Park played a role in him turning into one of the most recognisable faces behind the team, which he served in different capacities. Matovu served as Villa treasurer in 2013-2014 and at the time of his death, he was a club Trustee alongside big names like Hajji Omar Ahmed Mandela, Fred ‘Guy’ Kawuma, Franco Mugabe, William Nkemba and MacDusman Kabega.
Meeting the man
I lived in Kibuli for close to 10 years. And as a footballer, Villa Park was my home, featuring for Jogoo Young, Villa’s junior side. It is here that I met Badru ‘Bady’ Ssajjabi, son to the legendary musician and former Simba SC playmaker. Ssajjabi and I struck a friendship and on one of those evenings walking back home, he suggested that I escort him to his house to pick something then we continue on the journey. And when we reached their home, I found Matovu seated alongside other Afrigo members, preparing to rehearse for an upcoming music show. That was in 2007.
I greeted them and he was happy to know I was studying at university and also playing football. And he gave me some serious counsel to stick to my education because Uganda’s football does not pay, referring to his son Ssajjabi that he was hustling with life because he chose football instead of concentrating on academics. ‘Mutabani soma nnyo, omupiira gw’e Uganda tegukulimba. Tolaba mukwano gwo Badru bwe bimwokya?’ he said in Luganda.
Through the years, I kept meeting Matovu especially at his home in Kibuli, because I used to move with his son a lot. When I quit playing football, I served on the SC Villa executive committee as the media relations manager. He was the club treasurer. Matovu was a very unpredictable person. Some days he would show up in mood to give constructive ideas, engage stakeholders and offer solutions to a number of challenges facing the club. On other days he would come in a very resigned, nonchalant mode, with an ‘I don’t care’ attitude.
Sometimes he could walk into Villa Park, sit alone, watch training and move away without saying a word to anyone. On other days he would be a bubbly figure. That is the myth of a man he was.
Humble to the dot
Prominent as he was, Matovu stayed glued to his Kibuli roots. His house, just between the IUIU Kampala Campus and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Kibuli, remained somewhat below the supposedly big brand that the fans paid huge sums to watch on those glittering musical stages. He clearly lived a humble life that defines many Kibuli residents. It is no wonder death found him a short distance away from his home.
Kibuli is one of the least developed places in Kampala. Ironically, it is just less than 5km from the city centre. There is a belief that because it hasn’t attracted developments like bars and other happening places, maybe because of it’s large Islamic population and some key Islamic properties including Kibuli secondary school, Kibuli mosque and Kibuli hospital, it has lagged behind on so many fronts.
Probably befitting for people like Matovu who loved a life far away from never ending social drama. He clearly loved the low profile freedom it gave him. Even many people around the neighbouring zones of Agip, Depot, Lubuga, Kitooro and Corner House didn’t know his house. They used to call it ‘Ku Afrigo’. Probably that is a man that wanted the band to have a bigger name than him.