Former Busiro South Member of Parliament Charles Matovu has died at the age of 41 after falling critically ill earlier this week.
Matovu died on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he had been transferred from Lubaga Hospital.
National Unity Platform (NUP) Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said the former legislator’s illness started suddenly on Monday evening.
Rubongoya visited Matovu at Lubaga Hospital on Thursday morning and found him in a critical condition, unable to speak or open his eyes. He was subsequently transferred to Mulago, where he died later in the day.
The cause of death had not been officially established in a public statement by Thursday evening.
NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, expressed shock at the news, describing Matovu as a brother, comrade and fellow leader who had represented Busiro South during the 11th Parliament.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi and other party officials also mourned the former MP.
Matovu was born on April 1, 1985, and trained as an electrical engineer. He represented Busiro South in Wakiso District on the NUP ticket between 2021 and 2026.
He won the seat in the 2021 general elections but lost it in January 2026 to National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Kenan Opio.
Matovu challenged the election results in the High Court at Entebbe, arguing that electoral irregularities and alleged violations of electoral laws had affected the outcome.
Figures cited in court documents showed Opio with approximately 36,497 votes against Matovu’s 30,487.
In September, Justice Johnson Karemani dismissed an application by Matovu seeking access to additional electoral materials, ruling that the request lacked sufficient specificity.
The main petition was still before the court when Matovu died, with hearings reportedly having started around October 16.
His death brings a sudden end to his legal challenge over the Busiro South parliamentary seat. His family, colleagues in NUP and constituents are now mourning a former legislator whose final months were marked by a contested election and an ongoing court battle.
Further details about the cause of death and funeral arrangements are expected to be communicated by the family.
