David Owori killed in suspected robbery outside his Kampala home

David Owori, a 27-year-old Ugandan international and captain of Sports Club (SC) Villa, was beaten to death by suspected robbers outside his home in the Makindye suburb of Kampala on Tuesday night and died of his injuries on Wednesday, police said.

Ugandans have expressed widespread grief and anger after the attack on one of the country’s best-known footballers. Owori, who was widely known by the nickname Colgate, played as a right-back and midfielder, captained record champions SC Villa and also represented the national team, the Cranes.

Witnesses said a group of attackers struck Owori with paving stones on Tuesday night, then robbed him of his mobile phone and other belongings before fleeing and leaving him unconscious. SC Villa spokesperson Asan Kasingye told journalists that the incident occurred just outside the player's home in Makindye and said: "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,".

Owori was first taken to a nearby medical clinic and later transferred to a private facility in Kampala; he died of his injuries on Wednesday. The club and local media reported the sequence of medical care that followed the attack.

Clubs, governing bodies and teammates issued immediate tributes. SC Villa said: "We have lost more than a player - we have lost a leader, brother and friend," while the Federation of Uganda Football Associations described Owori as "a true leader on and off the pitch" and added: "David was not just a footballer. He was both a leader and an inspiration to a generation,". The Cranes said the team had lost a football star who "carried the hopes" of Uganda. Parliament observed a minute's silence and called for a quick investigation, and social media users voiced anger and demanded tougher action against violent crime.

Owori returned to SC Villa in 2023 for a second spell and became one of the club's longest-serving players. He helped Villa win their first league title in 20 years, securing a record 17th top-flight crown in 2024, and had a contract extension running until January 2027; he also featured for Uganda during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and was regarded as a strong contender for future call-ups to the Cranes.

The killing occurred weeks after the death of another Ugandan sportsman, rugby international Sydney Gongodyo, who was also fatally attacked by a mob in Kampala.

Local police said detectives are pursuing leads to identify those responsible and to preserve evidence at the scene. "The scene of the incident has been documented and processed to ensure that all relevant evidence is collected and preserved," Rachael Kawala, a local police spokesperson, added.