The Ugandan football community is in mourning after the death of David Owori, a player who was fatally injured during a robbery in the capital, Kampala, on Tuesday night. Owori, who captained Sports Club Villa, a Uganda Premier League club, and represented the national team, was attacked after resisting an attempt to steal his mobile phone and other belongings near his home in Makindye division.
According to Racheal Kawala, a spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan police, Owori was found unconscious by passersby, who took him to a nearby hospital. He was later transferred to another hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Wednesday. Witnesses reported that the attackers hit the footballer with paving stones before robbing him and fleeing, leaving him unconscious.
Owori, 27, was a right-back and midfielder for SC Villa. He helped the team win a record 17th Uganda Premier League title in 2024. The footballer started his senior career in 2016 at the Uganda Premier League side Vipers Sports Club and had stints in Europe with Vélez CF in Spain and Utsiktens BK in Sweden. He also played for the national team in the qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
SC Villa expressed their sorrow over Owori’s passing, stating that he was receiving treatment at Case Clinic following an attack by suspected thugs. The Federation of Uganda Football Associations also paid tribute to Owori, describing him as a leader and an inspiration to a generation. The Ugandan parliament observed a minute of silence in Owori’s honour on Wednesday.
This incident is not the first tragedy to hit Ugandan sports in recent times. In June, Sydney Gongodyo, a Ugandan rugby international, died after a mob attacked him in Kampala, mistaking him for a thief, police said. Uganda’s National Council of Sports expressed their hope for justice and a lasting solution to such tragedies.
The football community continues to mourn the loss of Owori, who was remembered for his courage, humility, and passion on and off the pitch.
