Former Busiro South Member of Parliament Charles Matovu has died at the age of 41, according to senior officials of the National Unity Platform (NUP), prompting a tribute from party president Robert Kyagulanyi.
Kyagulanyi described the news as shocking, sharing a message calling for strength among members of the opposition party.
“Very shocking news. May God strengthen all of us,” Kyagulanyi said.
Matovu represented Busiro County South in Wakiso District during Uganda’s 11th Parliament, having been elected on the NUP ticket.
An electrical engineer by profession, he returned to the political contest in January 2026 but lost his parliamentary seat to National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Kenan Opio.
Details surrounding the former MP’s death, including the cause and location, had not been independently confirmed at the time of the announcement.
Matovu’s parliamentary career placed him among NUP’s elected representatives in Uganda’s 11th Parliament, where he represented Busiro County South.
His official profile on Parliament’s website lists his date of birth as April 1, 1985. His political journey continued into the January 15, 2026 parliamentary election, when he sought another term representing Busiro South.
The contest ended with Opio declared the winner, according to the information contained in the election records cited in the newsroom fact sheet. Court records put Matovu’s vote tally at 30,487, compared with Opio’s 36,497.
Matovu subsequently challenged the election results in the High Court in Entebbe, alleging irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws.
The petition placed the disputed parliamentary contest before the courts, although the available information does not establish the final outcome of the substantive election case.
On September 25, 2026, the High Court dismissed a separate application in which Matovu had sought access to additional electoral materials.
The court ruled that the documents he wanted had not been identified with sufficient specificity.
That decision related to the application for access to electoral materials and was separate from the main election petition.
The distinction is important because the dismissal of the application should not be presented as a final ruling on the substantive election challenge.
Matovu’s final months in active electoral politics also unfolded against the backdrop of tensions reported during the 2025–2026 campaign period.
In December 2025, NUP reported that Matovu and members of his campaign team had been assaulted by men alleged to be in uniform while campaigning in Busiro South.
The party said those affected received treatment at Mengo Hospital. The allegations were attributed to NUP in the available information, which does not independently establish the identities of the people involved or the outcome of any investigation.
The reported incident forms part of the background to Matovu’s political activities but does not establish any connection to his death.
No verified information in the newsroom fact sheet links the reported campaign incident to the circumstances surrounding his passing.
Kyagulanyi’s reaction has been one of the confirmed responses to Matovu’s death in the information available for publication.
The NUP president’s message expressed shock and called for strength among party members.
The announcement has brought attention to Matovu’s service in Parliament and his participation in the 2026 Busiro South election.
However, the available information does not include statements from Matovu’s family or additional named tributes from his parliamentary colleagues.
His cause of death, the location where he died and the circumstances surrounding his passing had not been independently confirmed at the time of writing.
Funeral arrangements, including the date and venue of burial, were also not available in the newsroom fact sheet.
These details will require confirmation from the family or an authorised party representative before they can be included in subsequent reporting.
The next developments to watch for are an official statement clarifying the circumstances of Matovu’s death and any announcements concerning funeral arrangements.
Confirmation from his family or NUP would help establish further details while providing an opportunity for additional tributes from colleagues and political associates.
The status of Matovu’s substantive election petition may also warrant verification through the relevant court records, particularly if the proceedings remain relevant to the public record.
Until further information is confirmed, reporting should remain focused on the announcement, Matovu’s parliamentary service and the documented events of his political career.
Charles Matovu’s death marks the loss of a former representative of Busiro County South whose public record includes service in Uganda’s 11th Parliament, an unsuccessful re-election bid and a legal challenge to the January 2026 election results.
As NUP members respond to the news, confirmation of the circumstances surrounding the Charles Matovu death and details of his final arrangements remain outstanding.
