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Ugandan Olympian Cheptegei who was burnt alive by partner gets military funeral

Ugandan Olympian Cheptegei who was burnt alive by partner gets military funeral

New Delhi: Uganda Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set on fire by her partner, received a military funeral at her family village Bukwo on Saturday. More than thousands gathered to pay their final tribute to the late marathon runner, as reported by news agency Associated Press.

Local residents of Bukwo, government officials, fellow athletes, family members and other relatives were present at the funeral rites of Rebecca Cheptegei, who succumbed to severe burns on September 3 after being attacked by Kenyan partner Dickson Ndiema Marangach.

Cheptegei, who was also a sergeant in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), was honoured with gun salute before her coffin was laid to rest among trees under the mountain. The coffin was swathed in the Ugandan flag and was saluted by officers from the UPDF who carried her body into the room. Cheptegei’s body was moved to a nearby sports stadium in the village from the local council headquarters, where it was brought from Kenya initially.

Rebecca Cheptegei’s casket lowered in her graveyard at Kipswayo

You can follow the proceedings here: https://t.co/jskH7pwwhq#VisionSports | #VisionUpdates pic.twitter.com/OYgVm3ZQG3

— Vision Sport (@newvisionsport) September 14, 2024

The ceremony started around 10:00 AM (7:00 GMT), according to a report by news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP). In attendance, Cheptegei’s estranged husband Simon Ayeko was also present. Cheptegi had two daughters with Simon.

“We are extremely saddened. As a father it has been very difficult (to not break the death news to their children). Slowly we will tell them the truth,” Simon told AFP.

Rebecca Cheptegei was buried Saturday with full military honours at her ancestral place in Uganda’s northeast location #RIP pic.twitter.com/ARfDtIn9yf

— Stephen Mutoro (@smutoro) September 14, 2024

Cheptegei is the fourth female athlete who was killed by her partner in Kenya in the recent years, further amplifying concerns of physical violence on women in the African nation. Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, the two athletes lost their lives in domestic violence incidents since 2021, as a report from AFP suggested. Several marches took place on streets in Kenya with the surging rates of violence against women.
Cheptegei, who made her debut at the Paris Olympics last month in women’s marathon, died after suffering 80% burns in the attack by Dickson. Reports suggest that the couple quaraled over a piece of land the athlete bought in Kenya, leading the man to set fire.
Ugandan officials have condemned the attack, demanding justice for Cheptegei. First lady Janet Museveni, who also serves as Uganda’s education and sports minister, described the attack as “deeply disturbing.” Don Rukare, chairman of the National Council of Sports of Uganda, said in a statement on X that the attack was “a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete.
(With inputs from Agencies)

 

 Rebecca Cheptegei, who was also a sergeant in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), was honoured with gun salute before her coffin was laid to rest among trees under the mountain.  Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today

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