SC Villa captain David Owori dies after Kampala assault

Uganda international and SC Villa captain David Owori has died after being assaulted by unidentified attackers in the capital, Kampala, police said.

Owori, 28, was critically injured in a suburb of the city on Tuesday, according to police spokesperson Racheal Kawala. Passers-by found the footballer unconscious and took him to a nearby hospital.

He was later transferred to another hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Kawala said.

Owori captained SC Villa, one of Uganda’s biggest football clubs, and also represented the national team, the Uganda Cranes. His death prompted tributes from the country’s football authorities and widespread anger among members of the public.

“David was not just a footballer; he was both a leader and an inspiration to a generation. As captain of SC Villa he led with courage, humility and passion. In the Uganda Cranes jersey he carried the hopes of a nation,” the Federation of Uganda Football Association said in a statement.

The incident has also renewed concerns about crime in Kampala, where criminal activity is described as widespread. Many Ugandans expressed outrage over Owori’s death on X, while some criticised what they viewed as the authorities’ failure to deal effectively with insecurity.

Owori’s death comes only weeks after another high-profile tragedy involving a Ugandan sports figure.

Rugby player Sydney Gongodyo died in June after being assaulted by a mob in Kampala. Police said he appeared to have been mistaken for a thief.

The National Council of Sports Uganda, a state-run body, said the latest death was part of a series of tragedies affecting Ugandan sport.

“Sadly Ugandan sport has been hit with many such tragedies lately, and we hope for justice and a lasting solution,” it said.

Deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa also called on the authorities to confront the wider security problems facing the country. His comments were made in a statement published on the Ugandan parliament’s website.

No further details about the circumstances of the assault on Owori, including the identity of those responsible, were given by police.

His death has left SC Villa and Uganda’s national football community mourning a player who was recognised not only for his role on the pitch but also for his leadership as club captain. The Federation of Uganda Football Association said he had represented the hopes of the nation while wearing the Uganda Cranes jersey.

The killing has intensified public calls for justice and for a lasting response to violent crime in Kampala, following the death of Gongodyo and other concerns about safety in the capital.