TAKEAWAYS

• Ruyonga says Moses Matovu’s musicianship and longevity put him among Uganda’s greatest artists.
• He argues Chameleone’s influence does not match Afrigo Band’s enduring legacy beyond East Africa.
• His comments reignite the debate over Uganda’s greatest musician of all time.

Rapper Ruyonga has brewed controversy in Uganda’s entertainment industry after arguing that Afrigo Band’s legendary vocalist and instrumentalist Moses Matovu is a bigger musical figure than Leone Island boss Jose Chameleone.

The debate emerged during a discussion about Uganda’s greatest musicians, with Ruyonga placing Matovu among the country’s all-time musical giants. He argued that judging an artist’s greatness should go beyond hit songs and commercial success to consider skill, longevity, influence and the ability to leave a lasting mark on generations.

According to Ruyonga, Chameleone may have achieved greater recognition across Uganda and the wider East African region, but Matovu’s contribution to Ugandan music carries a different weight.

“Those Afrigo songs, those ones are principalities. Those are monuments in this industry.”

Ruyonga also questioned whether Chameleone’s music has achieved the same level of resonance beyond East Africa, particularly when compared with Afrigo Band’s enduring catalogue.

“Chamille has done things, but let me tell you, when you cross East Africa, who is singing Chameleone?” Ruyonga asked, maintaining that Matovu’s legacy should be judged within the context of the era in which he built it.

The rapper further compared the debate to discussions around American hip-hop legends, arguing that longevity and survival across generations can shape how artists are ultimately ranked.

While acknowledging Chameleone’s enormous contribution to Ugandan music, Ruyonga maintained that Matovu represents a different category of greatness — one built on musicianship, longevity and a catalogue that has become part of Uganda’s cultural heritage.

The comments are likely to reignite the long-running debate over who truly belongs at the top of Uganda’s musical pantheon.