 Kapuuo was assassinated by two gunmen in the black township of Katutura on 27 March 1978, with both SWAPO and the South African authorities blaming each other.At his death he was described by the media as a "popular moderate and leader of the multiracial Democratic Turnhalle Alliance".Kapuuo is buried alongside Hosea Kutako in the traditionally Herero town of Okahandja.