Uganda Minister of State, Peter Ogwang, has confirmed that Owori was returning home at 8:30 pm after celebrating his son’s birthday before he was ambushed by a group of unknown thugs who hit him with a paver in Makindye Division.

Reportedly, he was fatally attacked by the robbers when he attempted to resist. They brutally struck him, leaving him unconscious, and fled the scene. He was rushed to Nakasero Hospital and pronounced dead on Wednesday.

Police spokesperson said the detectives are pursuing leads to identify those responsible so that they may be brought to account. 

Tributes have been made for the former footballer as they condole his family. Posting on their X account, SC Villa Club noted that they are devastated by the death of its Captain and his demise is a big loss to the team.

In a parliamentary proceeding, the Parliament of Uganda took a moment of silence to honour the  SC Villa Captain.

Owori was one of the best Ugandan football players. He was a versatile player who played both as a right back and midfielder.

In 2021, he was featured in the national team during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and was regarded as a strong contender for future call-ups to the Cranes.

He also represented  Uganda’s National team internationally and in 2023 he returned to SC Villa after spending two years in Europe. In 2024, he helped the team win its first league title in 20 years.

Until his demise, he was among the longest-serving members of the current squad.

His brutal killing had sparked outrage among the public, with citizens expressing their frustrations about their safety. Violence in Kampala has been surging, with Owori’s death coming after another attack where Sydney Gongodyo, an international rugby player, was also killed in Kampala a few weeks ago.

Their demise is a big loss to the sports fraternity in Uganda, with citizens calling upon the state to ensure measures are enacted to curb the rising violent attacks in the country.