Ugandan football is in mourning after the death of David Owori, the 27-year-old captain of SC Villa, who was killed during a street robbery in Kampala on the night of Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

Owori was returning home to the Makindye division — a suburb of Kampala — when a gang armed with paving stones attacked him. According to reports by the BBC and The Guardian, he resisted the robbers as they attempted to steal his mobile phone and other valuables.

The assailants beat him repeatedly with paving stones until he lost consciousness, then took his belongings and fled. Passersby found him and rushed him to a nearby clinic before he was transferred to Case Clinic in Kampala, where he died from severe head injuries on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

A leader who made history

Affectionately nicknamed "Colgate", Owori was a versatile midfielder and right-back who captained SC Villa to the club's record 17th Uganda Premier League title in 2024 — the club's first league triumph in 20 years.

He began his senior career at Vipers Sports Club in 2016, before venturing to Europe, where he represented Vélez CF in Spain and Utsiktens BK in Sweden. He returned to SC Villa in 2023, going on to lead the club to their historic championship.

Owori also wore the national shirt, representing the Uganda Cranes during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, and had been considered a strong candidate for future national team squads.

His death has sent shockwaves through Ugandan football and beyond, with tributes pouring in for a player whose dedication and leadership had made him a beloved figure in the country's game.