GONE TOO SOON

International Soccer Star, 27, Beaten to Death in Robbery

The captain was near his home when thieves killed him with paving stones to take his phone.

David Owori, the captain of a Ugandan soccer club, has died after being brutally attacked during a robbery outside his home in Kampala. The 27-year-old player of the country’s national team and SC Villa team was assaulted late Tuesday after trying to stop thieves from stealing his cellphone and other belongings. Witnesses told local media the attackers repeatedly struck him with paving stones before fleeing the scene. Passersby found Owori, widely known by his nickname “Colgate,” and rushed him to Sir Albert Cook Hospital. He was later transferred to Case Hospital for specialized treatment but died from his injuries early Wednesday. Police said investigators are collecting evidence and searching for those responsible. SC Villa called the killing a “senseless act” and urged authorities to bring the attackers to justice. “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 team wrote in a statement. The club described Owori as a respected leader whose commitment and professionalism inspired teammates and supporters. The Uganda national team said Owori “carried the hopes of a nation.”