SC Villa Captain David Owori Killed in Robbery Attack Near Kampala Home
Uganda’s football community is in mourning after SC Villa captain David Owori died from injuries suffered in a violent robbery attack near his home in Makindye, a Kampala suburb.
Owori, 27, was attacked by a group of unidentified assailants on Tuesday night as he made his way home. According to sources close to the club, he was assaulted at around 8pm when he resisted an attempt to steal his phone. Reports say the attackers struck him with paving stones before making off with his phone, cash and other belongings, leaving him unconscious at the scene.
Residents rushed him to a nearby clinic before he was transferred to Case Clinic in Kampala, where he died the following day from his injuries.
Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the attack, saying detectives are hunting for the assailants and working to establish what exactly was taken and the motive behind the assault.
Owori captained SC Villa, Uganda’s record 17-time Premier League champions, and played both as a right-back and in midfield. He also represented the national team, the Cranes, and was widely known by his nickname “Colgate.” He returned to SC Villa after spells that trace back to his early days at Nsambya Young Stars Academy, Wembley Soccer Academy and Lukuli United.
In a statement, SC Villa said it was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our captain,” describing him as “a valuable player, a respected leader and a committed servant of the game,” and called on security agencies to urgently track down and prosecute those responsible.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) paid tribute too, calling Owori “a true leader on and off the pitch” and “an inspiration to a generation.” The national team said Uganda had lost a player who “carried the hopes of a nation.”
Uganda’s Parliament observed a minute of silence in his honour on Wednesday. His death comes just weeks after rugby player Sydney Gongodyo was also killed in a mob attack in Kampala, fuelling public anger over rising violent crime in the capital and renewed calls for tighter security.