David Owori, captain of Uganda Premier League club SC Villa, has died aged 27 after being attacked and fatally assaulted by suspected robbers near his home in Kampala.
Police said the footballer was attacked after resisting an attempt to steal his mobile phone and other personal belongings. Witnesses said the assailants struck Owori with paving stones before escaping from the scene.
Owori was taken to a medical facility with severe injuries, but died on Wednesday.
The defender and midfielder was a central figure for SC Villa and had also played for Uganda’s national team, the Cranes. He was widely known by the nickname Colgate.
His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from football supporters, team-mates, politicians and sports authorities across Uganda. Those paying tribute have also called for justice and stronger measures to tackle violent crime in the country.
SC Villa said the loss extended beyond the playing staff, describing Owori as a leader, brother and friend as well as a player.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations praised him for the leadership he showed both on and off the pitch. Uganda’s Parliament also observed a minute’s silence in his honour.
Owori was captain of SC Villa during the club’s successful 2024 league campaign, when they won their 17th league title. That triumph ended a 20-year wait for the club to claim the championship again.
He had been under contract with SC Villa until January 2027.
Owori’s role at the club had made him one of its most important figures, combining defensive and midfield responsibilities while leading the team as captain. His contribution to the 2024 title success added to his standing among supporters and within Ugandan football.
The circumstances of his death have now brought football and public concern together, with the response focused both on remembering his contribution to the sport and on demands for accountability over the attack.
Police said the incident began when Owori resisted the suspected robbers’ attempt to take his phone and other belongings. Witnesses reported that paving stones were used during the assault, leaving him with injuries serious enough to require urgent medical attention.
Despite being rushed for treatment, he later died on Wednesday.
SC Villa’s statement that it had lost more than a footballer reflected the place Owori held within the club. He was regarded as a team leader and a valued member of the SC Villa family, while his appearances for the Cranes also gave him a wider role in Ugandan football.
The tributes from supporters, colleagues, public figures and sporting bodies have been accompanied by calls for a stronger response to violent crime. Parliament’s minute’s silence and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations’ tribute underlined the national significance of his death.
Owori leaves behind a legacy at SC Villa that includes the club’s 17th league championship and the ending of its two-decade wait for the title.
