David Owori, captain of SC Villa – one of Uganda's biggest football clubs – has died after an attack in the capital Kampala, according to police.
Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said Owori, 28, was seriously injured when a group of unknown assailants attacked him in a Kampala suburb on Tuesday. He was found unconscious by passersby and taken to a nearby hospital. He was later transferred to another hospital but did not survive.
The Uganda Football Federation (FUFA) issued a statement mourning his loss: “David was not just a footballer. He was a leader and an inspiration to a whole generation. As SC Villa captain, he led with courage, humility, and passion. In national team colours, he carried the hopes of the entire country.”
The incident comes just weeks after Sydney Gongodyo, a rugby international, was attacked by a mob in Kampala in June on suspicion of theft and died. Owori's death has sparked outrage on social media platform X, with many Ugandans condemning rising crime and accusing authorities of failing to control security.
The state-run National Council of Sports of Uganda also spoke out: “Sadly, Ugandan sport has suffered so many tragedies recently. We hope justice will be served and long-term solutions found.”
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa also urged authorities to address the country's broader security challenges, according to a statement on the Ugandan Parliament's website.
Owori became widely known when he led SC Villa to the Ugandan national league championship last season, ending a 20-year wait. It was the club's 17th title, a competition record.
