CSOs demand justice for women facing GBV

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Several civil society organisations (CSOs), including the Women's Movement of Uganda have called for justice for women facing violence. The call follows the tragic murder of Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei who was brutally killed by her boyfriend after dousing her in petrol and setting her on fire in Kenya.

The movement emphasized the urgent need for action to combat gender-based violence (GBV) stating that Rebecca Cheptegei’s death has sent shockwaves across the nation and beyond, not only because of her prominence as a celebrated athlete but also because of the brutality of the crime.

“Our hope as a women's movement is that society can realise that femicide is just the end of a prolonged mistreatment of a woman because violence is like a cancer which grows in form and cruelty. This is why everyone must be concerned about violence in any community,” Susan Achen from the network said.

Citing various cases of violence against women, Achen noted that the trend of GBV, particularly femicide, is not limited to athletes or certain regions as it cuts across all sectors, affecting women in sports, business, government, and civil society.

“She was doused in petrol and set ablaze, a heinous act that illustrates the extreme dangers women face, even those who seem to have broken societal barriers,” Achen added.

The movement said: "What does true justice for female survivors look like?" and that beyond the courts, the focus should be on creating a society where survivors are not blamed for the violence they suffer and the justice system must work not only to punish perpetrators but also to publicly acknowledge that these women were not at fault.

Role of media

Anna Samula, a programme officer with the Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention explained that the coverage of Rebecca Cheptegei’s murder by local media has been minimal compared to the international press.

According to her, this continues to draw attention to the link between violence against women and gender equality.

“Local outlets tend to prioritize popular topics like politics, sports, and entertainment, leaving less room for serious discussions on women's issues. This often results in women's concerns being treated as less important. Furthermore, reports often focus on the victims rather than the perpetrators,” Samula said.

Samula said this approach shields perpetrators from public scrutiny.

During the conference, media coverage of violence against women was heavily criticized. Even with the global attention on Cheptegei’s murder, local reporting has been limited.

As a result, the Women’s Movement urged the media to shift attention from the survivors to the criminals, as the current approach normalizes violence and diminishes the urgency to address it.

In their call to action, the Women's Movement emphasized that gender-based violence is a societal crisis, demanding immediate attention. They urged the Ugandan government to take more decisive action against perpetrators and to invest in community awareness campaigns aimed at changing harmful social norms.

“While we appreciate the government for standing on issues of violence against women, the government must take a firm stance against all forms of violence against women and girls by holding perpetrators accountable and creating safe spaces for women to thrive,” Stella Rose, coordinator for Women's Land Rights Movement noted.

Furthermore, she encouraged East African governments to work together to create cross-border systems that enhance policy enforcement, monitoring, and accountability. With the high levels of violence against women, regional cooperation is seen as essential to finding long-term solutions.

Follow Paris' example

Enya Torizara from the Women and Culture Development Association called on the Government to take inspiration from the actions of the French government by naming a road, possibly in the Kampala central business district, after the late Rebecca Cheptegei.

“Our request to the government of Uganda, is to follow the good acts of the government of France in identifying a road within our country, probably within the central business district, to name it after the late Rebecca Cheptegei,” Enya said.

Enya emphasized that this would not only honour Cheptegei’s contributions to the country during her life but also serve as a constant reminder to everyone that violence against women and girls is no longer acceptable in society.

Background

Rebecca Cheptegei tragically died on September 5, 2024. The 33-year-old marathon runner, who had competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics, was set on fire by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, following a domestic dispute in Eldoret, Kenya. Cheptegei suffered severe burns over 75% of her body and died three days later from multi-organ failure.

The incident occurred after an argument, reportedly over land. Her boyfriend also sustained injuries in the attack and was hospitalised. Ndiema has since passed on too.

Both the Ugandan and Kenyan athletics communities have called for justice for Cheptegei, and her passing has been widely mourned as a significant loss to the region.