Ugandan Olympian, Rebecca Cheptegei has tragically passed away in Kenya, four days after being set on fire by her boyfriend, Ugandan athletics officials confirmed on Thursday.
“We have learnt of the sad passing of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei following a vicious attack by her boyfriend,” stated Donald Rukare, president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, in a post on X. He called the act “cowardly and senseless” and lamented the loss of a talented athlete whose legacy would live on.
The incident occurred at Cheptegei’s home in Endebess, Kenya, where her partner, identified as Dickson Ndiema Marangach, allegedly doused her with petrol and set her on fire. Cheptegei, who had recently competed in the Paris Olympics marathon, suffered burns on 80% of her body and succumbed to her injuries at a Kenyan hospital.
The Uganda Athletics Federation condemned the act and called for justice, emphasizing the need to address domestic violence, an issue that has cast a grim shadow over the region.
