Ugandan football has been left in mourning following the death of SC Villa captain and national team player David Owori, who died at the age of 27 after being attacked during an apparent robbery in Kampala.
Police said Owori suffered fatal injuries after being assaulted by suspected robbers who allegedly targeted him for his mobile phone and personal belongings near his home in the Makindye suburb on Tuesday night. Investigators believe he was attacked after resisting the robbery.
According to witnesses, several attackers struck the defender with paving stones before stealing his possessions and fleeing the scene, leaving him unconscious. He was taken to a nearby clinic before being transferred to a private hospital in Kampala, where he died from his injuries on Wednesday.
Police have launched a homicide investigation and said officers are gathering forensic evidence while pursuing leads to identify and arrest those responsible.
The tragedy has prompted widespread grief across Uganda’s football community. SC Villa, the country’s most successful club with a record number of league titles, described Owori as far more than a key player, remembering him as a respected leader, teammate and close friend.
Owori played both at right-back and in midfield during his career and served as captain of SC Villa. After returning to the club in 2023 following a two-year spell in Spain, he became one of its most experienced players and played a major role in ending the club’s two-decade wait for a league championship. His leadership helped SC Villa secure a record-extending 17th Uganda Premier League title in 2024.
His performances and influence earned him a contract extension through January 2027.
At international level, Owori represented Uganda’s national team, the Cranes, during the qualifying campaign for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and remained among the players considered for future national team selections.
Tributes have continued to arrive from across Ugandan football. The Federation of Uganda Football Associations praised Owori’s leadership and lasting impact on the game, while the national team highlighted his dedication and importance to Ugandan football.
Uganda’s Parliament also observed a minute of silence in his memory and called for a swift investigation into the killing.
Owori, widely known by the nickname “Colgate,” was admired for his versatility, tactical intelligence and commitment both on and off the field.
His death has reignited public concern over violent crime in Kampala, with many Ugandans calling for stronger action to improve public safety and bring those responsible to justice. The incident comes only weeks after Ugandan rugby international Sydney Gongodyo was also killed in a separate fatal attack in the capital, further intensifying concerns about security in the city.