KAMPALA — Police have arrested seven suspects allegedly linked to the murder and robbery of former Sports Club Villa captain David Owor, as investigations uncover a wider network dealing in suspected stolen mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Owor was attacked near his residence on August 4, 2026, robbed of his mobile phone and other personal belongings, and later succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack.
The Uganda Police Force said an intelligence-led operation to trace Owor’s stolen mobile phone led investigators to individuals suspected of dealing in stolen electronic devices.
Police said the investigation has established that stolen phones and other valuables are frequently passed through networks of people who buy, store, sell or conceal property whose ownership or source cannot be satisfactorily explained.
According to police, the illicit market creates a ready source of income for criminal gangs and encourages further robberies and violent attacks.
The recovery of Owor’s phone, coupled with intelligence gathered during the investigation, led to the arrest of seven suspects allegedly connected to his murder and other violent robberies reported in Nsambya, Nabisaalu and Makindye.
Police said four of the suspects — Ahumuza David, Lubega Martin, Ssegawa Francis and Munguci Elvis — have been strongly linked to other crime scenes.
Investigators have connected the four to the alleged robbery of a Congolese national in Makindye Division on August 4, the same night Owor was attacked.
Police said the victim was allegedly assaulted with a blunt object before being robbed of a mobile phone and other property.
Further investigations have also linked some of the suspects to earlier violent crimes.
Police said Ahumuza David and Magumba Arafat have been connected to an aggravated robbery involving Mugisha Edrisa, who was allegedly struck with a blunt object during a robbery in Makindye Division on July 31, 2026.
Police warn buyers of cheap phones
The investigation has also prompted police to issue a strong warning to members of the public against purchasing mobile phones and other valuables whose origin or ownership cannot be established.
Police said stolen property is often sold cheaply through informal networks, creating a market that ultimately finances violent criminal activity.
“The public should not create a market for stolen property,” police warned.
The force said people who knowingly or carelessly purchase suspicious property risk helping criminal networks continue targeting members of the public.
“Every purchase of an item whose origin is doubtful risks financing and encouraging criminal networks to continue robbing, assaulting and, in some cases, killing innocent people for phones, cash and other valuables,” police said.
The warning covers mobile phones, tablets, computers, SIM cards, identity documents, bags and other valuable items whose source is unclear.
Police advised the public to purchase electronic devices and other valuables only from known and legitimate dealers.
Buyers were also urged to be particularly cautious when confronted with unusually cheap items, rushed transactions or sellers unable to provide a credible explanation about where the property came from.
Where possible, police advised buyers to verify the IMEI number or serial number of electronic devices before completing a purchase.
Anyone who suspects that an item may have been stolen has been urged to report it or the suspected dealer to the nearest police station.
Police also called on victims who have lost property through theft or robbery to provide proof of ownership when seeking recovery.
The force said it will continue conducting operations targeting networks involved in the illicit trade of suspected stolen electronic devices.
The murder of Owor has therefore opened a wider question about the economics of street crime: what happens when there is always someone willing to buy what criminals steal?
Police say breaking that chain — from robber to middleman to buyer — is essential to preventing violent crimes in which ordinary possessions can become reasons for assault, robbery and, tragically, death.
