Ugandan midfielder David Owori was beaten to death by suspected robbers near his home in the capital, Kampala.
Police said Owori was fatally assaulted after resisting an attempt to steal his mobile phone and other belongings, prompting an outpouring of grief and renewed public anger over violent crime in Uganda.
Owori was the captain of Sports Club (SC) Villa, the Uganda Premier League record champions, where he played as both a right-back and midfielder. He also represented the country’s national team—the Cranes.
“We have lost more than a player—we have lost a leader, brother, and friend,” SC Villa said in a statement.
Witnesses say a group of thugs attacked the footballer with paving stones on Tuesday night before stripping Owori of his stuff and fleeing, leaving him unconscious.
SC Villa spokesperson Asan Kasingye informed journalists that Owori was targeted close outside his home in Makindye, a Kampala suburb.
“The player was ambushed by thugs as he approached his home, leaving him with life-threatening injuries before he was rushed to the medical facility,” Kasingye said.
Owori was rushed to a nearby medical clinic and then transferred to a private facility in the city, but he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.
Local police spokesman Rachael Kawala said officers were seeking leads to identify individuals responsible. “The scene of the incident has been documented and processed to ensure that all relevant evidence is collected and preserved,” Kawala stated.
Owori’s death has sent shockwaves across Uganda, with the football community, including fans and players, and politicians seeking justice.
Tributes are starting to flood in for the defender, who was popularly known as Colgate.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) described Owori as “a true leader on and off the pitch.”
“David was not just a footballer. He was both a leader and an inspiration to a generation,” it said in a statement.
The national team, the Cranes, stated that they had lost a football star who “carried the hopes” of Uganda.
On Wednesday, Parliament held a minute’s silence in memory of Owori and called for a prompt investigation.
The versatile player, known for his tactical discipline and ability to play across midfield, will return to SC Villa in 2023 for a second spell after two years in Europe. At the time of his death, he was among the longest-serving members of the current team.
He helped guide the high-profile squad to their first league win in 20 years, securing a record 17th top-flight crown in 2024.
His influence both on and off the pitch earned him a contract extension with the team until January 2027.
Owori also played for the national team in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and was viewed as a good candidate for future calls to the Cranes.
His murder has sparked outrage on social media, with many Ugandans questioning the frequency of violent crime in Kampala and demanding stiffer penalties for criminals.
The incident came only weeks after the death of another Ugandan sports star, rugby international Sydney Gongodyo, who was also fatally beaten by a mob in Kampala.
