Ugandans are mourning the death of 27-year-old David Owori, one of the country’s best-known footballers, after he was beaten by suspected robbers near his home in the capital, Kampala.
Police said Owori was fatally assaulted after resisting an attempt to steal his mobile phone and other belongings, prompting an outpouring of grief and renewed public anger over violent crime in Uganda.
Owori captained Sports Club (SC) Villa, the Uganda Premier League record champions, where he played both as a right-back and midfielder. He also represented the country’s national team – the Cranes.
“We have lost more than a player – we have lost a leader, brother and friend,” SC Villa said in a statement.
Witnesses said a group of attackers hit the footballer with paving stones on Tuesday night before robbing Owori of his belongings and fleeing, leaving him unconscious.
SC Villa spokesperson Asan Kasingye told journalists that Owori was targeted just outside his home in Makindye, a Kampala suburb.
“The player was ambushed by thugs as he approached his home, leaving him with life-threatening injuries before he was rushed to the medical facility,” Kasingye said.
Owori was rushed to a nearby medical clinic and then transferred to a private facility in the city, but he died of his injuries on Wednesday.