Uganda to Lay Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei to Rest Amidst Outcry Over Gender-Based Violence
Uganda will bid farewell to Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei on Saturday as the country mourns the tragic death of the athlete, who succumbed to severe burns inflicted by her partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach. The 33-year-old, who made her debut in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics this summer, was attacked earlier this month in a harrowing incident of gender-based violence in Kenya.
Cheptegei’s death has shocked the East African region and sparked a global outpouring of tributes. Activists have condemned the brutal assault, highlighting the ongoing issue of gender-based violence.
Cheptegei’s body crossed the Kenya-Uganda border late Friday afternoon amidst rainfall, heading towards her family’s village of Bukwo, located about 380 kilometers (240 miles) northeast of Uganda’s capital, Kampala. The burial ceremony is scheduled to commence at 10:00 am local time (0700 GMT) and will be conducted with military honors, as confirmed by Beatrice Ayikoru, Secretary General of the Uganda Olympic Committee.
Simon Ayeko, Cheptegei’s estranged husband and father of their two daughters, expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “We are extremely saddened,” Ayeko said, adding that it has been challenging to inform their children about their mother’s death. “Slowly we will tell them the truth,” he noted.
Coach Alex Malinga, who trained Cheptegei during her teenage years, praised her contributions to athletics. “She greatly contributed to the promotion of athletics until her last days,” Malinga said.
The attack on Cheptegei occurred while she was attending church with her children. Local media reports suggest that her daughters witnessed the brutal assault. Marangach reportedly sneaked into her home during her absence and set her on fire. Following the assault, Marangach himself succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack.
Cheptegei’s family has disclosed that the couple had been embroiled in disputes over property ownership, which may have contributed to the violence. “I think at that time, their relationship had become sour,” said Moses Kipsiro, Cheptegei’s brother-in-law, who also hails from Bukwo and had previously trained with her.
The horrific incident has underscored the pressing issue of gender-based violence, with activists calling it part of a broader femicide epidemic. According to UN figures, Kenya reported 725 femicide cases in 2022. A subsequent report by Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 34 percent of women had experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
Cheptegei’s death adds to a troubling trend, with at least two other athletes, Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, also losing their lives in domestic violence incidents since 2021.
As Uganda prepares to lay Rebecca Cheptegei to rest, her death remains a poignant reminder of the urgent need to address and combat gender-based violence in the region and beyond.
