Ugandan soccer captain David Owori killed in assault
Kampala — Uganda international David Owori, captain of one of the country’s biggest soccer clubs, has died after an assault in the capital, Kampala, police said, reports BritPanorama.
Owori, 28, captain of SC Villa, was critically injured by unidentified assailants in a suburb of Kampala on Tuesday, according to police spokesperson Racheal Kawala.
He was found unconscious by passers-by, who took him to a nearby hospital. He was later transferred to another facility where he was pronounced dead, Kawala stated.
“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 Associations remarked in a statement.
Crime rates are high in the capital, with many Ugandans expressing outrage at his death on X. Many condemned what they described as the authorities’ failure to effectively combat crime.
Owori’s death follows that of another popular sports figure, rugby player Sydney Gongodyo, who died in June after being assaulted by a mob in Kampala, reportedly mistaken for a thief, according to police.
“Sadly, Ugandan sport has been hit with many such tragedies lately, and we hope for justice and a lasting solution,” said the state-run National Council of Sports Uganda.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa urged authorities to address the wider security challenges in the country, according to a statement on parliament’s website.
