Police retrace Moses Matovu’s final hours from bar to death scene

Police on Saturday took the two main suspects in the murder of Afrigo Band legend Moses Matovu back to the alleged scenes of the crime as detectives reconstructed his final hours.

The reconstruction involving Vincent Nsamba and Rose Tusiime began with a heavy deployment of police and military personnel, with several roads in Kibuli sealed off during the exercise.

The exercise started at Rujumbura Bar in Kibuli, where Matovu and Tusiime reportedly spent some time on the night of Wednesday, September 23, before detectives led the suspects to Tusiime’s rented house in Market Zone B and later to the spot where Matovu’s Land Rover, registration number UAR 982H, was parked when the confrontation turned fatal.

At the scene, Tusiime, 26, demonstrated how the confrontation allegedly started and how Matovu fell onto the pavement after he was allegedly punched. Detectives recorded her account in writing and on video as they sought to establish the sequence of events leading to the death.

For Nsamba, 41, also known as Arnold, detectives focused on establishing whether he was at the location and his alleged role in the confrontation.

A police officer involved in the exercise said scene reconstruction helps investigators test suspects’ accounts against physical evidence.

“Scene reconstruction is very important because it helps us to confirm the truth. We bring the suspects back to show us how everything happened step by step, from the bar to the house and where the fight happened,” the officer said.

The officer said detectives could use the exercise to compare statements with physical evidence, measure distances and establish the positions of the people involved.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala said similar reconstruction exercises had been conducted in Kibuli and Nansana as detectives gathered further evidence.

“We have brought back the suspects to the scene of the crime to make sure that what we see matches what the suspects have already told us. We collected evidence in Nansana, and we got some exhibits. We expect the same here in Kibuli,” Kawala said.

“At the moment, we can’t reveal everything, but more communication will be made as further investigations unfold,” she added.

The exercise, which lasted more than two hours, was led by senior detectives, including Kampala Metropolitan Police CID commander Milton Birungi Beigumamu and CID Kampala South Regional commander Arthur Twiinamatsiko.

The two suspects were later taken back to Natete police station, where they remain in custody as investigations continue.

Suspect known to Matovu

Residents and local leaders in Kibuli, led by LC1 chairperson for Kibuli Market Zone B Abdul Nasser Mukasa, said Nsamba was not a stranger to Matovu.

Mukasa said Nsamba had previously worked for Matovu as a casual labourer, helping to load Afrigo Band musical instruments and public-address equipment. He described Nsamba as a humble and reserved man, adding that he had trained in kickboxing years ago in Kisugu, Namuwongo.

Police say Matovu, 77, had attended a farewell event at Sheraton Gardens before proceeding to Rujumbura Bar and later to Tusiime’s rented room in the early hours of Thursday, September 24.

According to the preliminary police account, Nsamba, who is described as Tusiime’s boyfriend or former partner, arrived at the room and knocked on the door. After allegedly failing to get a response, he is said to have smashed a window before waiting outside.

The confrontation allegedly resumed when Tusiime and Matovu walked towards the vehicle, leading to the altercation in which Matovu sustained the fatal head injury.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Matovu’s death and the respective roles of the two suspects.

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