Ugandans Mourn Tragic Death of Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei

Ugandans are mourning the death of marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2024, after being set on fire by her alleged boyfriend in a brutal attack. Cheptegei had been receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, Kenya, where she had been admitted with severe burns covering 80% of her body.

The Uganda Athletics Federation confirmed the heartbreaking news on X (formerly Twitter), posting: "BREAKING NEWS💔💔 We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest in peace."

Donald Rukare, former chairman of Uganda’s National Council of Sports, also expressed his grief: "We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei OLY following a vicious attack by her boyfriend. May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women. This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure."

Cheptegei’s death has sparked outrage across social media, with many users condemning the attack and paying tribute to the athlete. The incident, which occurred at Cheptegei’s home in Endebes, Trans Nzoia County, is believed to have been caused by a long-standing land dispute between Cheptegei and her alleged attacker, Dickson Ndiema Marangach.

According to reports, Cheptegei had returned home from church with her children when Marangach ambushed her outside her house, dousing her with petrol and setting her on fire. Neighbours who heard the commotion rushed to the scene and managed to rescue both Cheptegei and Marangach, who also sustained burns to 30% of his body. The two were initially taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to MTRH for specialised care.

Local authorities have confirmed that the land dispute had been ongoing, with a report from a local administrator indicating that Cheptegei had bought a plot of land in Trans Nzoia County, close to Kenya's athletic training centres, which had led to tensions between her and Marangach. Police have launched an investigation into the attack.

Rebecca Cheptegei, a respected figure in Ugandan athletics, had competed at the recent Paris Olympics and won gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand. Her passing has left the sports community and the nation in deep mourning, with many calling for justice and an end to gender-based violence.