Former Busiro South MP Charles Matovu dies
Matovu was reportedly first taken to Rubaga Hospital, before being transferred to Mulago Hospital, where he was pronounced dead Thursday evening.
The cause of Matovu's death has not yet been made public.
KAMPALA - Charles Matovu, the former Member of Parliament for Busiro County South, has died in hospital in Kampala.
Matovu was reportedly first taken to Rubaga Hospital, before being transferred to Mulago Hospital, where he was pronounced dead Thursday evening.
The cause of death has not yet been made public.
Before his death, the National Unity Platform (NUP) legislator had filed an election petition challenging the victory of Kenan Opio of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), citing several irregularities in the January election.
According to official results announced by the Electoral Commission, Opio won the seat with 36,497 votes while Matovu came in second with 30,487 votes. Matovu initially sought a vote recount across 25 polling stations, alleging his agents had been chased away
Matovu went ahead to file a main election petition in the High Court of Entebbe before Justice Jameson Karemani, challenging Opio's victory and alleging electoral non-compliance.
On September 25, the High Court dismissed a separate application (for discovery) by Matovu demanding extensive electoral materials from the electoral commission for "lack of specificity"
The main petition later proceeded on October 16, with the cross-examination of Opio, the declared winner, and Tolbert Musinguzi, the Wakiso district electoral commission returning officer.
Pending were written submissions and judgment which were expected to be delivered before the end of this year.
'Best of friends'
"Just received very disturbing news concerning the abrupt passing of our brother, comrade and fellow leader, Hon. Charles Matovu, who served as Member of Parliament for Busiro South in the last parliamentary term.... Very shocking news! May God strengthen all of us," he posted on his X page.
Also on X, Joel Ssenyonyi, the leader of Opposition in Parliament, said Matovu died after a medical challenge "that he got abruptly this week", adding that "we shall avail more details about this very sad incident in due course".
Joseph Balikudembe Mutebi, also a former MP for Busiro South, said Matovu "loved playing alone and certainly that was his script and his biggest strength".
"After winning [Peter] Sematimba, he [Matovu] traversed the constituency like crazy and this won him masses, beating my own brother [Stephen Sekigozi] to the NUP ticket. I embraced his candidature 100% and certainly my brother, too, blessed him in ink, on paper and material support."
Moses Hassim Magogo, the MP for Budiope East, described Matovu as a best friend.
"We became the BEST of friends in the 11th Parliament, and our friendship continued to his death. I must accept, 2026 has been my toughest year in all my life. Rest in power, my man, until we meet and play football again," he said.