Top Ugandan footballer killed by robbers armed with paving stones

Ugandan football star David Owori lost his life in a robbery on Tuesday night in Kampala, after resisting robbers who attempted to steal his belongings, including his mobile phone. The 27-year-old captain of Sports Club Villa, a Ugandan Premier League club, and a member of the national team, was found unconscious by passersby near his home in Makindye division. He was rushed to a local hospital, and later transferred to another, where he was declared dead on Wednesday.

Witnesses reported that the attackers, who used paving stones to strike Owori before robbing him, fled the scene. Owori, who played as a right-back and midfielder for SC Villa, had a distinguished career, helping the team secure 17 consecutive Uganda Premier League titles in 2024. He began his senior career in 2016 with Vipers Sports Club and briefly played in Europe for Vélez CF in Spain and Utsiktens BK in Sweden. Owori also represented the national team in the qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The football community is devastated by his sudden death. SC Villa expressed profound sorrow, describing Owori as a leader, an inspiration, and a courageous captain. The Uganda Cranes national team honored Owori, acknowledging his significant impact on the sport. The Federation of Uganda Football Associations mourned the loss of a son, a leader, and a star, highlighting his on-field and off-field contributions. The Ugandan parliament observed a minute of silence in his honor on Wednesday.

Tragedies have struck Ugandan sports in recent months, from rugby international Sydney Gongodyo, who died after being mistaken for a thief, to Owori's untimely passing. The Ugandan National Council of Sports hopes for justice and a lasting solution to such violent incidents in the country.