At a press conference held at FIDA headquarters in Kampala, Elizabeth Kemigisha, Communication and Advocacy Officer at FIDA, expressed deep sorrow over Cheptegei’s death. She highlighted that this incident reflects the vulnerabilities women continue to face, even as they achieve great success in various fields.
Women activists under the Domestic Act Coalition have mourned and condemned the murder of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who was killed by her Kenyan husband on August 31st. The husband allegedly doused her with petrol and set her ablaze.
At a press conference held at FIDA headquarters in Kampala, Elizabeth Kemigisha, Communication and Advocacy Officer at FIDA, expressed deep sorrow over Cheptegei’s death. She highlighted that this incident reflects the vulnerabilities women continue to face, even as they achieve great success in various fields.
Kemigisha emphasized that this brutal act is an alarming example of escalating violence against women, not only in Uganda but globally. She pointed out that women across sectors, including sports, business, government, and civil society, continue to face violence and oppression, revealing society’s disregard for women's rights.
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Immaculate Owomugisha from the Center for Women Justice urged the Ugandan government to prioritize the protection of women and girls. She called for strengthened domestic violence laws, faster prosecutions, and tougher penalties for perpetrators of violence. Owomugisha also advocated for increased budget allocations to support gender-based violence prevention and justice institutions.
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Eliot Orizalwa from the Women and Girls Child Development Association called on activists to stand in solidarity and demand justice for Rebecca Cheptegei and all victims of domestic violence.
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A 2023 survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 1 in 3 women in Kenya has experienced gender-based violence, with over 40% likely to face physical and sexual abuse from their partners. Similarly, Uganda's 2023 Police crime report showed that 15,184 people survived domestic violence, with 10,792 being women. Additionally, 249 deaths resulted from aggravated domestic violence, with 113 of the victims being female.
Fred Kayongo Male
Freelancer