Ugandans are mourning the death of David Owori, a prominent footballer who was fatally assaulted by suspected robbers near his home in the capital, Kampala. The 27-year-old captain of Sports Club (SC) Villa, a record champion in the Uganda Premier League, was attacked on Tuesday night.
Police reported that Owori was beaten after resisting an attempt to steal his mobile phone and other belongings. Witnesses stated that a group of assailants struck the footballer with paving stones before robbing him and fleeing. Owori was discovered unconscious and rushed to a nearby medical clinic, then transferred to a private facility where he died of his injuries on Wednesday.
SC Villa spokesperson Asan Kasingye stated that Owori was ambushed as he approached his home in the Makindye suburb. Local police spokesperson Rachael Kawala confirmed that detectives are pursuing leads to identify the perpetrators and that the scene has been processed for evidence.
Owori's death has provoked widespread grief and renewed public anger over violent crime in Uganda. The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) described him as "a true leader on and off the pitch," while the Uganda Cranes national team noted the loss of a player who "carried the hopes of a nation."
Parliament observed a moment of silence in Owori's honor and called for swift investigations. The versatile player, who could feature as a right-back or midfielder, had returned to SC Villa in 2023 for a second spell and was instrumental in their winning the league title in 2024, their first in 20 years. He had a contract extension with the club until January 2027. Owori also represented Uganda during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and was considered a strong candidate for future national team call-ups.
The killing follows a similar incident just weeks prior, when rugby international Sydney Gongodyo was also fatally attacked by a mob in Kampala, further fueling public concern about the rise in violent crime.