Protect the lives and legacies of the departed; Fare thee well, Moses Matovu

The news of the death of veteran musician Moses Matovu, one of Uganda’s most celebrated musical figures and a founding member of the legendary Afrigo Band, has left the country deeply saddened.

For more than five decades, Matovu dedicated his life to music and made an immeasurable contribution to Uganda’s cultural heritage. His saxophone, his music and love for Afrigo Band earned him a place in the history of Uganda’s entertainment industry.

It is therefore painful that, even as the country mourns, some sections of the media, bloggers, TikTokers and other content creators have circulated accounts and speculation about the circumstances surrounding his death before all the facts have been established.

A reputation can take a lifetime to build and only moments to damage.

Moses Matovu spent more than 50 years building his reputation and legacy. There is enough material about his life and achievements to tell his story for weeks: his contribution to Afrigo Band, his musical career, the artists he mentored, the generations he inspired and the role he played in shaping Uganda's music industry. From such, we are the stories we should be telling.

Instead of concentrating on speculation about what might have caused his death, we can celebrate the life he lived and the contribution he made to our country. Where the circumstances surrounding a death are under investigation, the responsibility of the media is to report what is verified, distinguish facts from allegations and allow the relevant authorities to complete their work.

Let Facts Lead the Story.

This afternoon, I spoke to JIM KIGGUNDU, the person from whom the famous Afrobeat band song JIM was composed. He shared with me an account of what he understood to have happened on the night of the incident.

According to Jim, Moses had reportedly dropped the lady whose video has widely circulated to her home; as he was preparing to leave, an altercation involving the woman allegedly began. Jim said Moses intervened, apparently attempting to stop the confrontation, and was subsequently assaulted. When I asked JIM whether he shared this version of the story with the media, he said yes, and that has kept me wondering why the media has reported that version.

I emphasise that this is an account shared by an indivudual and should not be treated as the final finding on what happened. The circumstances surrounding Moses Matovu's death should be established through a proper investigation by the Uganda Police Force and other relevant authorities.

That distinction matters.

In an era when a story can travel across social media within seconds, an unverified allegation can become accepted as truth before investigators have completed their work. We all know that media shapes narratives which eventually become realities.

The Dead Cannot Defend Themselves

Moses is no longer here to explain his side of the story or correct anything that may be said about him.

But his children can hear it.

His family can read it.

His in-laws can encounter it.

His friends, colleagues, mentees and the many people he mentored can see it.

And they will have to live with whatever narrative is permanently attached to his name.

This is why we must ask ourselves an important question: What responsibility do we have when reporting about people who can no longer speak for themselves?

The pursuit of content should never come at the expense of human dignity.

To journalists, bloggers, TikTokers and all content creators, let us remember that behind every headline is a family. Behind every photograph is a human being. Behind every trending video is a story that may have lifelong consequences for people who are grieving.

We can report. We can investigate. We can ask difficult questions. But we must do so responsibly.

Let Us Celebrate the Legacy

Moses Matovu's life provides countless stories worth telling.

We can tell the story of a musician who spent decades entertaining Ugandans.

We can tell the story of the Afrigo Band and its contribution to Uganda's musical heritage.

We can document his musical journey, his collaborations, his performances and his contribution to the development of local music.

We can speak to the musicians he mentored and the generations of artists influenced by his work.

We can preserve his music and document his contribution to Uganda's cultural history.

That is also journalism.

Indeed, perhaps the greatest tribute we can give Moses at this moment is to ensure that his enormous contribution to Ugandan music does not become overshadowed by speculation surrounding the circumstances of his death.

A Lesson for Artists

As musicians, actors, dancers, comedians and other public figures, you should guard your reputations carefully. In today's digital environment, an artist's image can be damaged by a single incident, photograph, video or allegation.

Sometimes, if it means being called heartless, selfish, or not caring because you have refused to give someone a lift, accompany someone somewhere or go to a certain place, let it be as long as you are protecting and safeguarding your reputation and image. There are moments when protecting one's safety and reputation must take priority.

We have seen cases where the circumstances surrounding an artist's death have unfortunately overshadowed years of meaningful work. We should learn from those experiences and protect our reputations and legacies jealously.

I hope that the police investigation into the circumstances surrounding Moses Matovu's death will be expedited and that the findings will eventually give the public a clear and factual account of what happened. But even if they don’t, let’s prioritise keeping Matovu’s legacy.

Until then, let us mourn him with dignity.

Let us protect his family from unnecessary pain.

Let us protect the reputation he spent more than five decades building.

And above all, let us remember Moses Matovu not merely by how his life ended, but by how remarkably he lived and what he gave to Uganda's music and cultural heritage.

Fare thee well, Moses Matovu.

May your music, your contribution and your legacy live on.