Ugandan Olympic marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei to be laid to rest on September 14

The funeral for Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who tragically died after allegedly being doused by her boyfriend, will take place on September 14 in Uganda.

Cheptegei died last Thursday after enduring burns over 80 per cent of her body, leading to multi-organ failure. Her untimely death has sparked outrage, with many viewing it as another alarming case of gender-based violence in Kenya.

"The burial date of Rebecca Cheptegei has been set for September 14, in Kongasis Sub County in Bukwo district, eastern Uganda," Beatrice Ayikoru, the Secretary General of the Uganda Olympic Committee and a member of the funeral organizing committee told AFP.

Bukwo, the location of her family home, is situated near the Kenyan border, roughly 380 kilometres northeast of Uganda's capital, Kampala.

Benjamin Njia, Vice President of the Uganda Athletics Federation, announced on Sunday that further funeral details would be shared soon.

“As we mourn our national champion, the family has settled on Saturday as the burial date, but we are still waiting for the finer details, both from the government and the family,” Njia said.

Given Cheptegei's role as an officer in the Uganda People's Defence Forces, it is anticipated that the government will oversee the funeral proceedings.

Cheptegei's partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, who allegedly carried out the attack, sustained burns to 30 per cent of his body and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.

Calls for justice

Leaders from the Sabaot community, which spans both Kenya and Uganda, expressed their sorrow and called for justice. Pius Arap Kauka, spokesperson for the Sabaot Council of Elders, condemned the attack during a meeting in Kitale.

“We are saddened by the cruel treatment and death of Cheptegei. As a community, we are very sorry for the inhuman act that led to the death of a promising star. We apologise on behalf of the Sabaot community in Kenya to our neighbours in Uganda, and to President Yoweri Museveni,” Kauka said.

The elders urged the Kenyan authorities to ensure justice is served and criticized local police for failing to act on earlier warnings.

"The family has raised several concerns over threats to her life. In February, the family reported a case to the police, but it was not acted on. We want officers involved in the case punished for their failure to protect our daughter," the elders said.

They also appealed to Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki, to guarantee the safety of athletes, noting the growing number of attacks on sports figures.

"We do not want to lose another athlete in this manner. We want the government to act swiftly, and to offer security to our athletes who suffer through planned attacks against them," Kauka said.

Cheptegei was a prominent marathon runner who represented Uganda at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing 44th in the women's marathon.

She had also competed at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where she placed 14th. Cheptegei held Uganda’s national marathon record with a time of 2:22:47 and was slated to compete in the 2025 World Military Games in Switzerland.

Her death is seen as a devastating blow to both Kenya and Uganda, especially within the Sabaot community, one of nine sub-tribes of the Kalenjin people living in both countries.

Several top Ugandan athletes hail from Kapchorwa, the region where Cheptegei’s family resides, including world record holders Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo, Olympic medalist Peruth Chemutai, and marathon champion Victor Kiplangat.