Ugandan footballer Owori killed in suspected robbery

David Owori, a Ugandan footballer who captained SC Villa and played for the national team, was killed near his home in Kampala on Wednesday in what police suspect was a robbery.

The 27-year-old was ambushed around 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday in the Makindye suburb of Kampala. Witnesses said he was attacked with paving stones after resisting attempts to steal his phone and other belongings. He was taken to a nearby clinic and later transferred to Case Clinic in Kampala, where he died from his injuries early Wednesday.

Police have launched a manhunt for the attackers. A police spokesperson said officers were reviewing CCTV footage from the area and appealing for witnesses to come forward.

SC Villa said in a statement: “We have lost more than a player. We have lost a leader, brother, and friend.” The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) praised Owori as “a true leader on and off the pitch.”

Owori, popularly known as “Colgate,” returned to SC Villa in 2023 and helped the club win the Uganda Premier League title in 2024, ending a 20-year wait for the championship. He had signed a contract extension until 2027.

Fans gathered outside the hospital and at the club’s training ground to pay tribute, leaving flowers and messages of condolence. Parliament observed a minute’s silence in his honour.

His killing came weeks after Ugandan rugby international Sydney Gongodyo was killed in a separate attack in Kampala. The incidents have renewed concerns about violent crime in the city, with some Ugandans calling for stronger action against criminals.

Owori made his senior national team debut in 2020 and earned caps for Uganda’s Cranes, featuring in World Cup qualifying matches.

SOURCE: AP