Ugandan Olympic Athlete Given Military Funeral After Fatal Domestic Violence Incident

Ugandan Olympic Athlete Given Military Funeral After Fatal Domestic Violence Incident

Thousands of mourners gathered in Uganda on Saturday to honor Rebecca Cheptegei, the Olympic athlete who tragically died last week in Kenya after her partner set her on fire. Cheptegei, who held the rank of sergeant in the Ugandan army, was laid to rest with full military honors in her hometown near the Kenyan border.

Military officers led the funeral procession, with a gun salute marking Cheptegei’s service to the nation. “She deserved a military farewell that befits her rank,” said Brig. Felix Kulayigye, the military spokesman. The ceremony was held at a sports field in Bukwo district, where athletes, family members, and government officials delivered eulogies and condemned the rising cases of domestic violence.

Cheptegei, 33, passed away after suffering 80% burns in a horrific attack by her partner, Dickson Ndiema, in western Kenya’s Trans-Nzoia County on September 3. Ndiema, who sustained burns himself, later succumbed to his injuries. The couple had reportedly argued over a piece of land, leading to the fatal gasoline attack.

Her death has reignited calls for greater protection of female athletes, with many demanding action against the gender-based violence plaguing the region. Cheptegei is the fourth female athlete in Kenya to be killed by a partner in recent years, a troubling trend that has sparked several protests.

Cheptegei’s body was returned to Uganda on Friday in a solemn procession following a street march in Eldoret, Kenya, where activists rallied against violence targeting female athletes. Ugandan First Lady Janet Museveni, who also serves as the country’s sports minister, called the attack “deeply disturbing,” while Don Rukare, chairman of Uganda’s National Council of Sports, condemned it as “a cowardly and senseless act.”

Cheptegei had recently competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, representing Uganda in several international competitions. She was buried at her father’s homestead in Bukwo, leaving behind a legacy as both a dedicated athlete and a soldier.