The funeral for Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who died after being set on fire by her boyfriend, will be held on September 14 in her home country.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he funeral for Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who tragically succumbed to severe burns after being set on fire by her boyfriend, is scheduled for September 14 in her home country.
Cheptegei, 33, was a competitor in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics last month. She died on Thursday, four days after the horrific incident occurred at her home in western Kenya.
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Beatrice Ayikoru, secretary general of the Uganda Olympic Committee and a member of the funeral organising committee, confirmed the burial date will take place in Kongasis sub-county in Bukwo district, located about 380 kilometres (240 miles) northeast of Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
The attack, which reportedly left Cheptegei with burns covering over 80 per cent of her body, was allegedly carried out by her Kenyan partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, who is currently in hospital receiving treatment for serious burns.
Witnesses reported that Cheptegei’s two children, aged nine and 11, witnessed the attack, which has sparked outrage and sorrow across the region.
Tributes for Cheptegei have poured in from the sports community, with World Athletics President Sebastian Coe highlighting the tragic circumstances surrounding her death. He emphasized the need to enhance safeguarding policies to protect female athletes from abuse.
Cheptegei, who held the title of Uganda’s women’s marathon record holder and served in the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces, was commemorated by the city of Paris, which plans to name a sports venue in her honour.
Her death has raised awareness about domestic violence and femicide in Kenya, with the United Nations condemning the incident as a violent murder and calling for greater action to combat gender-based violence.
Cheptegei is the third female athlete to be killed by her partner since 2021, highlighting a disturbing trend that demands urgent attention.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
