Ugandan football is mourning the death of David Owori, the SC Villa captain, who died on Wednesday after a suspected robbery attack near his home in Kampala.
David Owori was assaulted on Tuesday night in Makindye Division, a Kampala suburb, as he made his way home from training. According to The Monitor, the attack happened at around 8pm in the Makindye 2 area, commonly known as the Dubai zone.
A gang reportedly struck him with paving stones before robbing him of his belongings and fleeing the scene, as reported by The Independent. Residents rushed him to a nearby clinic, and he was later transferred to Case Clinic for further treatment.
He was initially conscious when he arrived at hospital, according to Pulse Sports Uganda, which named his close friend and former Villa teammate, Nicholas Kabonge, as the person who first took him for treatment. His condition deteriorated overnight, and he died on Wednesday morning.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the attack to The Observer and said investigations were underway to trace the assailants. He added that police were yet to establish exactly what the attackers took from him.
SC Villa announced the death of their captain in a statement carried by The Independent. The club described David Owori as a valuable player, a respected leader and a committed servant of the game, and called on security agencies to swiftly pursue and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Born on 23 September 1998 in Tororo, according to The Monitor, David Owori began his career at Nsambya Young Stars Academy before moving through Wembley Soccer Academy and Lukuli United. He later joined the youth and senior set-up at Vipers SC.
He signed for SC Villa in 2018 and spent three seasons with the club before moving abroad, turning out for Spanish side Velez CF and Swedish outfit Utsiktens BK, as reported by allAfrica. David Owori rejoined SC Villa in 2023 and remained with the club until his death.
During his second spell at Villa, David Owori was part of the squad that won a record extending seventeenth league title in the 2023/24 season, according to Kawowo Sports. He later captained the side to the Fufa Super 8 trophy and featured in a 1-1 draw with Maroons only days before the attack.
Tributes have poured in from across Ugandan football. KCCA FC condemned the killing as a senseless act that had robbed the country of a talented leader, while lawmakers in the Parliament of Uganda observed a moment of silence, with Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa calling for a thorough security investigation.
The killing has renewed public concern over street crime in Kampala. Athletes, public figures and ordinary residents have increasingly fallen victim to violent street gangs and home invasions in the city’s suburbs, often while walking home unaccompanied and without personal security.
It comes two months after rugby player Sydney Gongodyo died following a mob attack after he was wrongly accused of snatching a woman’s handbag, as previously reported by Capital FM Kenya. He was rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
Early reports on social media had wrongly suggested that he was involved in a motorcycle taxi accident, a claim that SC Villa management moved quickly to correct. The club confirmed instead that its captain had been physically ambushed by thugs near his residence.
As of publication, the Uganda Police Force had not issued an official statement detailing the circumstances of David Owori’s death, according to New Vision. Investigations into the attack continue, and no arrests have yet been announced.
Football administrators across the region have called for tighter security measures for players, many of whom travel to and from training grounds on foot or by public transport. SC Villa said it would stand by the Owori family and ensure their captain is accorded a dignified send off.
David Owori’s death leaves a gap in a Ugandan Premier League side that had leaned heavily on his experience at right-back. Teammates described him as a disciplined professional who led by example both on the pitch and in the dressing room.
