Ugandan police announced on Monday that they are investigating the death of Nigerian footballer Abubakar Lawal, who fell from a shopping mall balcony in Kampala.
The 29-year-old striker played for local premiership club Vipers.
According to police, Lawal fell from the third floor of Voicemall Shopping Arcade early on Monday.
He had been visiting a Tanzanian friend staying in one of the mall’s residential apartments.
𝐒𝐀𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒!
— 𝐕𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 (@VipersSC) February 24, 2025
We are deeply saddened to announce the sudden and untimely passing of our beloved player, Abubakar Lawal, who left us this morning.
He’s body has been transferred to a medical facility for postmortem examination. Funeral arrangements will be communicated… pic.twitter.com/mDaZIzo20p
The friend told police she had left him alone shortly before the fall.
“Authorities are retrieving CCTV footage and conducting thorough interrogations to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident,” police said in a statement.
Vipers Sports Club also released a statement expressing their grief.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the sudden and untimely passing of our beloved player, Abubakar Lawal, who left us this morning.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Lawal’s family, club fans, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Lawal joined Vipers in July 2022 after spending two years with AS Kigali in Rwanda.
