Uganda football star Owori killed, weeks after death of rugby’s Gongodyo

What the report says

Ugandan footballer David Owori has died after being assaulted in Kampala, according to Al Jazeera’s reporting citing police. Owori, 28, was captain of SC Villa, one of Uganda’s most prominent clubs, and also represented the Uganda national team. Police said he was critically injured by unidentified attackers in a suburb of the capital on Tuesday. He was found unconscious by passers-by, taken to a nearby hospital, then transferred to another facility where he was later pronounced dead.

The death has prompted grief and anger in Uganda, with the Federation of Uganda Football Associations describing Owori as a leader and inspiration. The state-run National Council of Sports Uganda also said the country’s sporting community has suffered several recent tragedies and called for justice. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa urged authorities to respond to broader security concerns, according to a parliament statement.

Owori’s death comes weeks after the killing of rugby international Sydney Gongodyo in Kampala. Al Jazeera reported that Gongodyo died after a mob assault in June, when he was allegedly mistaken for a thief. The article also noted wider public frustration over crime in the capital. In sporting terms, Owori had recently helped SC Villa extend its run as Uganda’s record league champions, adding to the significance of his loss for both club and country.