International Soccer Star Beaten to Death in Robbery

A rising international soccer star was killed in a horrific late-night attack after reportedly trying to stop a group of robbers from stealing his cellphone and belongings.

David Owori, the 27-year-old captain of Uganda’s Sports Club Villa, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, just hours after he was savagely attacked near his home in the capital city of Kampala.

Owori, who also represented Uganda’s national team, was reportedly confronted by suspected thieves on the night of Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Police said the soccer star tried to prevent the attackers from taking his phone and other personal belongings — and the encounter quickly turned violent.

Witnesses reportedly told authorities they saw several people attacking Owori with paving stones, leaving the athlete critically injured.

Passersby later discovered Owori and rushed him to Sir Albert Cook Hospital, according to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokeswoman Rachael Kawala.

But his injuries were devastating.

“At about 2 a.m. [on Wednesday, Aug. 5] he was referred to Case Hospital for specialized care, where he was later pronounced dead,” Kawala told Uganda’s New Vision newspaper.

Police said investigators were gathering evidence from the scene as authorities worked to identify those responsible for the deadly attack.

Owori, who was also known by the nickname “Colgate,” had become a respected figure in Ugandan soccer and was serving as captain of SC Villa, one of the country’s best-known clubs.

His stunned teammates called his death a “senseless act” and demanded justice.

“This senseless act has robbed the Club and the country of a committed captain and a promising sportsman, and it must not go unanswered,” SC Villa said in a statement urging authorities to “bring to justice” those responsible.

The club remembered Owori as a “respected leader” whose dedication extended far beyond the soccer field.

He was “a player whose commitment, professionalism, and passion for the badge inspired teammates and supporters alike,” the team said.

Tributes quickly poured in from across Uganda as news of the young captain’s death spread.

Uganda’s national team, known as the Cranes, remembered Owori as far more than an athlete.

“David was not just a footballer. He was both a leader and an inspiration to a generation,” the team wrote on Instagram. “In the Uganda Cranes jersey, he carried the hopes of a nation.”

Vipers Sports Club, where Owori played from 2016 to 2018, said it was “deeply saddened” by his “heartbreaking” death.

Owori’s career had also taken him beyond Uganda.

In addition to playing for Vipers and SC Villa, he spent time with Vélez CF in Spain and Sweden’s Utsiktens BK, according to New Vision.

The shocking killing even reached Uganda’s Parliament.

Lawmakers observed a minute of silence for Owori on Wednesday and called for those responsible for his death to be brought to justice.

For the soccer community that watched the 27-year-old rise from a promising player to a club captain and national-team representative, his sudden death has left an enormous void — and a growing demand for answers.

Police continue to investigate the attack.