STORY: :: Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei’s coffin
is brought to her hometown ahead of her burial
:: Cheptegei died after allegedly being doused in petrol and set alight by her former partner
:: September 14, 2024
:: Bukwo, Uganda
Cheptegei had recently returned from the Paris Olympics and finished 44th in the women’s marathon. This was her first participation in the Olympic Games, marking a significant milestone in her athletic career.
Soldiers from Uganda’s People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) carried her coffin into a holding room at the municipal council grounds in Bukwo, accompanied by the UPDF brass band playing instruments.
A soldier held a gold-plated plaque with Rebecca Cheptegei’s name and date of birth, while another marched with a framed photo of her. She is due to be buried on Saturday with full military honors.
Cheptegei’s death has deepened calls for action against gender-based violence in Kenya and beyond.
A 2022 government survey reported that nearly 34% of Kenyan women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, with married women at particular risk.
