In a heartfelt call to action, Uganda’s World and Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei has urged Ugandan athletes currently training in Kenya to come back home. Cheptegei’s appeal was made during the burial of Rebecca Cheptegei, a fellow Olympic marathon runner, held on Saturday in her ancestral village.
“All Ugandan athletes in Kenya should come back home. We don’t want to come here again for a similar function (burial),” Cheptegei stated, referring to the tragic death of Rebecca Cheptegei and other recent incidents involving Ugandan athletes in Kenya.
Rebecca Cheptegei, who was a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) sergeant, passed away from multiple organ failure after her boyfriend attacked her with petrol and set her ablaze. She was honored with a full military funeral, including a three-gun salute, and was survived by her two daughters, aged nine and eleven.
The burial ceremony, attended by athletes from both Uganda and abroad, was marked by strong sentiments against gender-based violence. The event saw significant contributions from leaders, including President Museveni, who donated Shs50 million for Rebecca’s daughters, and Kenyan President William Ruto, who contributed Shs15 million towards the burial expenses.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, acknowledged the failures of both the government and community in protecting Rebecca. “We are guilty as a government, but the community is also guilty. They knew what Cheptegei was going through with her boyfriend, but no one reported it,” Murkomen admitted.
In response to these issues, Mr. Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Sports, highlighted the challenges faced by female athletes, including restrictions on their financial autonomy. He announced plans to allocate funds for a new training facility in Amanang in the upcoming financial year.
Rebecca’s death has sparked outrage, particularly among women’s rights advocates who have long warned about the increasing number of female murders. Beatrice Ayikoru, Secretary-General of the Uganda Olympic Committee, condemned the attack as “a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete” and called for greater protection for female sportswomen.
Rebecca was the third female athlete killed in Kenya in the past three years. Kenyan runner Agnes Jebet Tirop was fatally stabbed by her husband in 2021, and in 2022, Bahrain-based athlete Damaris Muthee Mutua was found strangled in Iten, Kenya.
Ms. Elizabeth Keiteny from the Executive Board of Athletes Kenya revealed that they have assisted six young women in escaping abusive relationships since 2012, providing safe housing and counseling.
Rebecca Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, spoke emotionally about his daughter’s role in the family, emphasizing the deep loss felt by her loved ones.
As the community reflects on the tragedy, Cheptegei’s call for athletes to return home underscores the urgent need for safety and support for athletes both at home and abroad.
