Police have arrested 17 suspects in connection with the murder of SC Villa captain David Owori, recovering his stolen iPhone 14 Pro Max and other exhibits as detectives intensify the hunt for the remaining members of a suspected Kampala robbery gang.
The investigation into the brutal killing of Sports Club Villa captain David Owori has entered a new phase, with police arresting 17 suspects believed to be linked to the gang that allegedly attacked the footballer outside his home in Makindye.
The arrests represent the biggest breakthrough in the investigation since Owori was attacked on the night of August 4 and died the following morning from injuries sustained during the assault. Police say the suspects are being investigated for their possible involvement in Owori’s killing and a wider series of robberies across Kampala.
According to investigators, the 17 suspects include five key suspects, nine people believed to be associates of the main suspects, and three alleged dealers in stolen mobile phones.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said investigations remain active, with detectives pursuing additional suspects identified through information obtained from those already in custody.
“Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the murder are ongoing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” Kawala said.
The development has offered investigators an important trail in a case that triggered widespread anger and grief across Uganda’s football community.
Phone Leads Detectives To Suspects
A stolen iPhone 14 Pro Max belonging to Owori has emerged as one of the most important pieces of evidence in the investigation. Police previously disclosed that tracking the phone led detectives to two people suspected of operating within a network dealing in stolen mobile phones. The suspects were identified as Munyaneza Bashir, alias Jemo, and his associate Magoba Samuel.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the tracking operation provided detectives with a direct lead. “It has been established that the deceased was robbed of an iPhone 14 Pro Max. The tracking of the stolen phone has led officers to two suspects,” Rusoke said.
The phone was subsequently recovered at Usafi Taxi Park, near Usafi Market in Kampala, giving detectives a critical piece of evidence linking the robbery to the wider stolen-phone network.
Police operations targeting properties associated with suspects in Gangu Village and Kasubi also yielded additional exhibits.
Among the items recovered were two pairs of shoes, one of which reportedly had bloodstains, shin guards believed to have belonged to Owori, a black bag, pepper spray and a motorcycle.
The bloodstained footwear is expected to undergo forensic examination as investigators attempt to establish whether it can be connected to the scene of the attack.
A Suspected Gang On The Move
Investigators believe Owori may have fallen victim to a gang that was moving through different parts of Kampala looking for people to rob.
According to police, the group allegedly operated around Nsambya, Nabisaalu, Kirombe and Makindye on the night Owori was attacked.
Detectives suspect the gang used paving blocks, commonly known as pavers, to assault victims before taking their valuables. The information obtained from suspects in custody has reportedly helped investigators identify other alleged accomplices who remain at large.
This has widened the investigation beyond Owori’s death to a possible chain of related robberies committed by the same group.
Police are therefore not only trying to establish who directly participated in the attack on the footballer but are also examining the suspected criminal network behind the attacks.
Kasingye: Villa Welcomes Breakthrough
SC Villa spokesperson Asan Kasingye, a former Assistant Inspector General of Police, has welcomed the progress made by the Criminal Investigations Directorate.
Kasingye previously said the club was encouraged by the recovery of Owori’s phone and the arrests arising from the investigation.
“We at SC Villa are happy to hear that the CID has done incredible work in the investigation of the murder of our captain, the late David Owori,” Kasingye said.
He added that the recovery of the phone and arrests had strengthened the club’s confidence in the investigation.
Kasingye also disclosed that investigators had arrested individuals linked to several gangs operating in the area and said the club remained confident that detectives would pursue the remaining assailants and establish what happened to their captain.
For SC Villa, the investigation is more than a criminal case. Owori was not simply another player. He was the club’s captain, a leader on and off the pitch, and one of the players who helped Villa win its record 17th Uganda Premier League title in 2024.
The Night Owori Was Killed
Owori was attacked as he approached his residence in Makindye after completing his day’s activities.
According to information previously provided by Kasingye, the footballer was targeted at around 8pm. He was reportedly attacked and robbed of his phone before being left severely injured.
A close friend and former teammate, Nicholas Kabonge, rushed him to hospital while he was still conscious, but his condition deteriorated.
Owori died at Case Clinic in Kampala on the morning of August 5 after suffering severe injuries during the attack. The killing shocked Uganda’s football fraternity, with players, clubs, officials and supporters demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
The 28-year-old footballer had represented both club and country and had previously played for Vipers SC, Spanish side Vélez CF and Swedish club Utsiktens BK before returning to SC Villa.
His final competitive appearance came on August 1, when he captained Villa against Maroons FC in the FUFA Super 8 quarter-final.
More Arrests Expected
With 17 suspects now in custody, investigators are expected to concentrate on determining the precise roles played by each individual.
Police have been careful to describe those arrested as suspects, meaning their culpability has yet to be established in court.
The investigation is also expected to focus on the alleged stolen-phone network. During an earlier operation linked to the tracking of Owori’s phone, security personnel recovered four bags containing dozens of suspected stolen electronic devices, including scores of iPhones, Samsung phones and other brands, as well as tablets, motherboards and SIM cards.
The recovery has raised questions about the scale of the criminal network allegedly operating behind Kampala’s street robberies and stolen-phone trade.
For police, the challenge now is to convert the arrests and recovered exhibits into a watertight case capable of establishing exactly what happened on the night Owori was killed.
For SC Villa, however, the immediate demand remains simple: justice for their fallen captain.
As detectives continue hunting for suspects still at large, the recovery of Owori’s phone, the arrest of 17 suspects and the identification of alleged accomplices have given the grieving football community its first significant sign that the killing may not go unresolved.
The investigation remains ongoing, with police expected to make further arrests and provide additional details as they establish the individual roles of those implicated in the murder.
Author Profile
- Mr. Stephen Kasozi Muwambi is a seasoned crime investigative writer, majoring in judicial-based stories. His two decades’ experience as a senior investigative journalist has made him one of the best to reckon on in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected]
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