Chameleone asks Afrigo Band for Moses Matovu’s saxophone as memorial souvenir

KAMPALA, UGANDA — Musician Jose Chameleone has made a heartfelt request to the Afrigo Band to be allowed to receive one of the late saxophonist Moses Matovu’s instruments as a memorial souvenir in honour of the music legend.

In a letter addressed to Afrigo Band Director Wasula and the entire band, Chameleone said he wanted to preserve one of Matovu’s saxophones in the Jose Chameleone Gallery as a lasting reminder of the veteran musician’s contribution to Uganda’s music industry.

“It is with profound respect, humility and a heavy heart that I, Jose Chameleone, make this special request in memory of our beloved musical icon, Legend Moses Matovu,” he said.

Chameleone described Matovu as an extraordinary saxophonist and a monumental figure whose music and musicianship helped shape the sound and history of Ugandan music.

He said Matovu’s saxophone had become part of a musical language that touched generations and expressed hope that preserving one of his instruments would help keep his legacy alive.

“As we mourn his passing and celebrate the incredible life he lived through music, I humbly request, through Director Wasula and the entire Afrigo Band, to kindly consider allowing me to receive one of Moses Matovu’s saxophones from his gallery as a personal memorial souvenir, to be preserved and displayed in the Jose Chameleone Gallery,” he said.

Chameleone stressed that his request was not motivated by possession, but by love, honour and remembrance.

He said having one of Matovu’s instruments in his gallery would provide a tangible piece of the musician’s history and inspire him, fellow musicians, young artists and future generations.

“I fully respect the importance and sentimental value of Moses Matovu’s instruments to Afrigo Band, his family, friends and the Ugandan music fraternity. Therefore, I leave this request entirely in your hands and with the utmost respect for whatever decision you may make,” he said.

Chameleone further described the saxophone as a symbol of Matovu’s enduring contribution to Ugandan music, saying its memories and the music it created could continue to inspire people even after the musician’s death.

“May the saxophone of Moses Matovu continue to speak even after the man has gone — through the memories it carries, the music it created and the generations it inspired,” he said.

Matovu, a veteran member of Afrigo Band, died on September 24, 2026, after he was allegedly attacked at Kibuli Market Zone B in Kampala. He was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.

His death came shortly after the passing of fellow veteran musician Alex Mukulu, prompting an outpouring of tributes from Uganda’s music fraternity.

Chameleone’s request adds a personal dimension to the tributes, seeking to preserve not only Matovu’s music but also a physical piece of the instrument through which the saxophonist left his mark on Uganda’s musical heritage.

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