Story by Milo Pope
Uganda is mourning the death of one of its best-known footballers after he was beaten to death outside his home in an apparent robbery.
David Owori, 27, who captained club side SC Villa and represented Uganda’s national side, died after being attacked in Kampala on Tuesday night.
Police said Owori was assaulted after he reportedly resisted the attempt of robbers trying to steal his phone and other belongings.
Witnesses said a gang ambushed the footballer and repeatedly struck him with paving stones before they fled the scene.
Owori, who was critically injured, was rushed to the hospital but died from his injuries the following day.
In a tribute, his club team SC Villa said they had lost ‘more than a player’.
Ugandan soccer players pay homage to the 27-year-old at his funeral (Picture: Reuters)
‘We have lost more than a player – we have lost a leader, brother and friend,’ the statement said.
Club spokesperson Asan Kasingye said Owori had been attacked just outside his home in the Makindye area of Kampala.
‘The player was ambushed by thugs as he approached his home, leaving him with life-threatening injuries before he was rushed to a medical facility,’ he said.
Police have launched a murder investigation and say detectives are working to identify his attackers, with spokesperson Rachael Kawala revealing that officers had gathered evidence from the scene.
‘The scene of the incident has been documented and processed to ensure that all relevant evidence is collected and preserved,’ Kawala said.
Owori, who was known to fans as ‘Colgate’, was one of Uganda’s top defenders, and could play either at right-back or midfield.
In 2023, Owori returned to SC Villa following a spell in Europe and helped the club end a 20-year wait for the Uganda Premier League title, securing a record 17th league crown in 2024.
A Ugandan football player mourns the loss of his teammate (Picture: Reuters)
Following this season, he was also awarded a contract extension until 2027, and he featured for Uganda during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations described Owori as ‘a true leader on and off the pitch’.
Meanwhile, the national team said the country had lost a player who ‘carried the hopes’ of Uganda.
Uganda’s parliament held a minute’s silence in his honour on Wednesday. Politicians have also joined calls to hold those responsible to justice.
Owori’s killing comes just weeks after Ugandan rugby international Sydney Gongodyo also died following a violent attack in Kampala.
Both deaths have sparked concern over the rate of violent crime in Kampala, as many have taken to social media to demand stronger action against gangs who are operating in the capital.
