Tributes paid after Uganda midfielder David Owori beaten to death in street attack

Tributes have flooded in for Ugandan footballer David Owori, who was fatally assaulted by a street gang on Monday evening. Owori, who captained Sports Club Villa and also played for the Ugandan national team, was attacked near his home in Makindye, a suburb of Kampala, by an unknown group who attempted to rob him. Reports said the assailants threw paving stones at him as he resisted the robbery before stealing his belongings and leaving him unconscious. He was taken to a nearby clinic in critical condition and later died of his injuries. The football community has paid tribute to him and called for justice, with public anger mounting at the high level of violent crime in Kampala. Owori’s death comes weeks after rugby player Sydney Gongodyo was also fatally attacked by a gang in the city. SC Villa said: “We have lost more than a player - we have lost a leader, brother and friend. Uganda has lost not only an accomplished footballer but also an exceptional leader and role model. “This senseless act has robbed the Club and the country of a committed captain and a promising sportsman, and it must not go unanswered. “David was a valuable player, leader, and servant of the game whose loss is deeply felt by both the Club and the nation. “We call upon the relevant security and law enforcement agencies to urgently pursue, apprehend, and bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime.” The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) also paid tribute, writing: “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. “We have lost a son, a leader and a star. His light on and off the pitch will never be forgotten.” Parliament held a minute’s silence in his honour on Wednesday and called for an investigation. A police spokesperson said detectives were working to identify the assailants. Owori helped SC Villa win a record 17th Premier League crown and their first in 20 years in 2024, and also played for the Cranes during their qualifying campaign for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.