'More female athletes involved in relationship challenges'

__________

In the wake of the tragic death of Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, sports state minister Peter Ogwang has said more female athletes are bearing the brunt of difficult love relationships.

Cheptegei's life came to an end days after she was reportedly set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, on Sunday evening in Kenya's eastern city of Eldoret.

The horrifying incident has been widely condemned — within Uganda and far beyond, including in neighbouring Kenya, where she was based and tragically died at a hospital in Eldoret.

The mother of two died Thursday morning at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, four days after the attack.

In an interview on Friday, Ugandan minister Ogwang told New Vision that he has been approached by several female athletes seeking help, citing relationship struggles with their partners.

One of such athletes was Cheptegei.

Ogwang said the 33-year-old long-distance runner approached him after last month's Paris Olympic Games, where she placed 44th in the women's marathon.

“She requested me to visit her home to help mediate their relationship issues, but it is unfortunate that she has died before I could meet her family,” he said.

Others like Cheptegei are enduring similar domestic challenges.

It has not been only Rebecca with such a challenge but many other female athletes face the same challenges,” added the minister, vowing to visit all the families of female athletes to help meditate on their respective struggles.

That way, it would enable them to focus on their careers.

ALSO READ: 

1. UN condemns 'violent' death of athlete Rebecca Cheptegei

2. Paris to name sports venue after slain Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei 

3. Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies after being set on fire by boyfriend

4. Kenyan govt vows justice for slain Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei

“I have resolved to visit the families of all my athletes to understand what they are going through to prevent further damage from occurring," said Ogwang, who urged for justice so that the culprit is prosecuted.

He said the Ugandan government will issue burial arrangements once they get communication from their counterparts in Kenya.

“On whether the government shall accord her an official burial is a subject we shall discuss once we get to know from the Kenyan Police when we should repatriate the body."

'Bigger problem all too often ignored'

Cheptegei's death has drawn the attention of the globe and cast the spotlight sharply back on the safety of females against domestic abuse.

Uganda's First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, described her tragic end as "deeply disturbing".

"My heartfelt condolences go out to the athletics community, her family, friends, and the entire nation on the loss of our Olympian," she said on social media platform X.

The United Nations said Cheptegei's death "illustrates a much bigger problem that is all too often ignored".

"Every 11 minutes on average, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member somewhere in the world," Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, told a briefing in New York on Thursday.

"Today we join the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women in strongly condemning her [Cheptegei's] violent murder," he said.

"Gender-based violence is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world, and should be treated as such."

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said Cheptegei's life has been cut short "in the most tragic and unthinkable circumstances".

He said the Ugandan athlete was "an incredibly versatile runner who still had lots left to give on the roads, mountains and cross-country trails".