Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei dies after being set on fire by her boyfriend

Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei passed away in a hospital in neighboring Kenya on Thursday, according to Ugandan athletics officials. She was receiving treatment for burns covering 80% of her body after her lover allegedly doused her in gasoline and set her on fire. Four days after the attack, on Thursday morning, Cheptegei, 33, passed away from organ failure.

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence,” the Uganda Athletics Federation posted. “As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.”

Cheptegi was well-known in the running community after finishing 44th in the marathon at the most recent Olympics in Paris. After an argument about land the day before, Dickson Ndiema, Cheptegei's boyfriend, bought a jerrican of gasoline, doused her, and lit her flame, according to Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom on Monday.

The Trans Nzoia County Police's police commander, Jeremiah Kosiom, stated that after Mr. Ndiema heals from his wounds from the incident, they will file a murder complaint against him. According to Mr. Kosiom, Mr. Ndiema was receiving treatment at the same hospital after suffering burns to thirty percent of his body.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Ugandan Olympic Committee demanded that "law enforcement agencies take swift and decisive action to bring the perpetrator to justice for this cowardly and deplorable action."

In the past three years, Cheptegei is the third elite female athlete to pass away in Kenya.

Olympic athlete Agnes Tirop, a 25-year-old Kenyan, was discovered dead in her Iten house in Elgeyo-Marakwet County in 2021 from stab wounds to her neck. After being accused with her murder by Kenyan prosecutors, her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was charged with murder.

A few months later, Damaris Mutua, a 28-year-old athlete from Kenya, was discovered murdered in a house with a pillow covering her face. Earlier that month, Mutua had finished third in a half marathon held in Angola. Her lover was named as the primary suspect by the police.

Kenya’s sports minister Kipchumba Murkomen said in a statement that Cheptegei’s death was “not only a loss to Uganda and the athletics community, but to the entire region.”