Police have made a major breakthrough in the investigation into the violent murder of Sports Club Villa captain David Owori, recovering his stolen iPhone 14 Pro Max and arresting two key suspects linked to a notorious stolen mobile phone syndicate in Kampala.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed in a statement on Saturday evening, August 8, 2026, that tracking the deceased’s stolen smartphone led homicide detectives directly to the suspects.
“Following the murder of Owor David, a captain of Villa Football Club, we would like to update you on the progress of the investigation. 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: Munyaneza Bashir alias ‘Jemo’, a suspected dealer in stolen mobile phones, and his associate Magoba Samuel,” Rusoke stated.
During the operation, security personnel recovered four bags containing scores of suspected stolen electronic devices. The haul included 80 iPhones, 40 Samsung phones, eight Redmi phones, two Tecno phones, two Infinix phones, two Vivo phones, three feature phones, four motherboards, three iPads, and several SIM cards from MTN, Safaricom, Airtel, and Lyca networks.
“Other items recovered include ladies’ bags with identification documents, phone covers, and hard drives. Investigations are ongoing to establish the full network and link the exhibits to reported cases,” Rusoke added.
Hours before the official police update, former police Assistant Inspector General and current SC Villa spokesperson Asan Kasingye took to social media to commend the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) for its swift action.
“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. So far, the phone of our captain that was robbed from him has been recovered and leaders of six gangs arrested in the area,” Kasingye expressed, adding that the club retains full confidence in the investigators as they hunt down the remaining assailants to determine the primary motive.
The 28-year-old utility player passed away on Wednesday morning, August 5, 2026, at Case Clinic in Kampala, succumbing to severe injuries inflicted during a brutal ambush outside his residence in Makindye the previous evening.
According to Kasingye, Owori was targeted around 8:00 PM as he approached his home. He was initially rushed to the hospital while still conscious by his close friend and former teammate, Nicholas Kabonge, before his condition deteriorated rapidly.
Owori’s tragic death has plunged Ugandan football into mourning and re-ignited public outrage over rising urban criminality across the capital, where street gangs frequently target citizens and public figures.
Born in1998, Owori was a crucial asset for both club and country. The versatile midfielder and defender launched his senior career at Vipers SC in 2016, enjoyed European spells with Spain’s Vélez CF and Sweden’s Utsiktens BK, and returned to Villa in 2023. He played a pivotal role in guiding the Jogoos to their historic 17th Uganda Premier League title in 2024, securing a contract extension through 2027. His final competitive appearance was on August 1, when he captained Villa against Maroons FC in the FUFA Super 8 quarterfinals.