As the country continues to grieve the killing of SC Villa skipper David Owori a week ago, news filtered in about the passing of former Nsambya and Uganda Cranes pacy winger Raphael Bwire Ouma.
Bwire, a seasoned educationist and sports administration guru, succumbed to cancer of the throat and passed away silently on Saturday August 8. Bwire, who was at the height of his football powers in the 1970s, served as secretary of the defunct National Football League Committee (NFLC) and also headed the Copa Coca-Cola Post Primary Schools tournament for a longtime.
In fact, he is credited for grooming many football stars during his time as Games master and Head Teacher in the schools he was in. His legacy in Ugandan football is surely written in stone, and he will forever be celebrated for his great contribution to the game.
Players like Denis Iguma, Sadam Juma and Benjamin Ochan went through the guidance of Ouma at Old Kampala SSS. The aforementioned players all played with Owori at some time, by the way.
So, his passing, aged 27 must have hit them hard, like it did the rest of us, football loving people. One can only imagine how his teammates at SC Villa are contending with his death, as they prepare for the 2026/27 Uganda Premier League season. Finding a new right-back to replace him is not easy.
But at the same time, Owori was a versatile player, who could play in central midfield and on the wings, too. Such players do not come by that often, to be honest. Yet, also, his fighting spirit on the field, right from the time he was at Proline FC, is something you do not buy. It is a distinct virtue.
Therefore, to learn that Owori was hit by thugs on the head with a paving block, who took off with his iPhone 14 Pro Max, was gutwrenching. Why would you end someone’s life over a phone?
It is a story that has continued to portray Uganda as unsafe according to international media coverage. For many out there, they cannot fathom the possibility that a footballer at the top level could be that exposed as Owori was, when his assailants attacked him, I imagine.
However, the good news from Uganda Police is that, two suspects were found with Owori’s mobile phone. I hope police, this time round, brings this case to a logical conclusion by bringing the culprits to book.
Meanwhile, the passing on of Owori’s death took my mind back to other sports personalities, who died mysteriously under suspicious circumstances. GERALD KIDDU On May 15, 1997, Gerald Kiddu’s life was cut short under unclear circumstances at the age of 40.
He was gunned down at Kansanga by unknown assailants who left the crime scene without taking any of his property, including the car he was in. Kiddu who used to drive a Toyota Celica GT4, was a member of the Dembe Rally Team, which was funded and led by tycoon and veteran rally driver Karim Hirji.
Kiddu’s death shocked the motor rally fraternity in the country, but up to this day, his killers have never been known.
ABUBAKER LAWAL
Lawal was Vipers SC midfielder at the time of his death. The Nigerian import died on Monday, February 24, 2025 at the Voice Shopping Arcade, Bwebajja, along Entebbe Road, where he had reportedly gone to meet a friend.
There were reports that he jumped to his death. But over a year later, we have never known what really happened to a man, who helped Vipers win its first league and cup double in the 2022/23 season.
ABBOT SEBULIBA
Sebuliba, a lawyer by profession and a powerful SC Villa official, sustained fatal injuries from gunshots along Lugogo By-pass. His attackers ran away with a colossal sum of money.
Although he was rushed to Mulago hospital for surgery, on September 25, 1989, he passed away. He was a former general secretary of the National Council of Sports and once served as Fufa general secretary.
He was also the managing director of Oscar Industries. But his family has never got justice for his death.
MOSES NSEREKO
Nsereko was gunned down at Wampeewo flats in Kololo on September 15, 1991. At the time of his death, he was the general secretary of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa).
He is also a football legend for both KCCA FC and The Cranes. The midfielder also featured in the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ghana, where he was named in the tournament’s best eleven, alongside his compatriot, Phillip Omondi.
SHABAN MWINDA
Mwinda was a star footballer with SC Villa and the Uganda Cranes. But his career was cut short when he was gunned down on October 12, 1985, at just 24 years old. He met his death in Mengo, a Kampala city suburb after he sustained two gunshot wounds.
Despite being rushed to Nsambya hospital, where he died minutes later, no report about his death has ever been released 41 years later.
DENIS KARAMA OKELLO
Renowned for his aerial prowess, Karama had gone to his native Gulu to see his relatives before unknown gunmen put him out in October 1985.
He joined Nile in 1979 from Kilembe. He played an integral role in the Nile FC side which won the first and last top-flight league title in 1980.
FRED GENZA
Genza was head coach of KCC Boxing Club. He was gunned down at his residence in Naguru in 1984. The tactician had just returned from Germany with his team. His family never received any report about his assailants.
KENT LUTAAYA
The afro-haired defender-cummidfielder was playing for KCC FC from 1982, after he left Nytil FC. The 24-year-old was kidnapped right outside Nakivubo stadium in October 1982, before his unknown captors took him to an unknown place, where he was killed.
Prior to his death, Lutaaya, a brother to Brigadier Andrew Lutaaya, featured in the KCC FC team which defeated Nile FC in the 1982 Uganda Cup final. No one has ever been reprimanded for Kent’s death.
PAUL OLYA
Olya, who was a no-nonsense defender, was a victim of a crow-bar assault in October 1984. He was ambushed by thugs a few meters away from his home in Jinja, Umber Court estate, while coming from a training session at Kakindu Stadium.
Aged 24 at the time, Olya was part of the Nile FC team which won the 1980 league title and was also a Uganda Cranes player. Olya’s killers remain on the loose.
STEPHEN KYESWA
The assistant Town Clerk of Kampala City Council, as well as KCC FC secretary, Kyeswa was a soft-spoken and cool-headed administrator.
But while returning to his home, gunmen sprayed his car with bullets, which killed him near the Golf Course along Yusuf Lule Road in 1984.
MEDDIE LUBEGA
Besides being the older brother of both football stars Moses Ndaula and Sula Kato, Lubega was a key player for the Uganda Cranes, which reached the 1978 Africa Cup Nations final in Ghana.
The defender, who crossed to Masaka Union FC from Simba in 1982, was kidnapped by unknown men at Najjanankumbi as he was waiting for a taxi to join his Uganda Cranes teammates, who were preparing for the Cecafa Cup tournament at Nakivubo Stadium in October 1982.
Like many murder cases, Lubega’s remains unresolved to-date. Other similar cases include, Ismail Kiggundu (Express FC), Francis Muwonge (Police FC) and Dr Kamulegeya (KCCA).
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