Sebei elders meet over Kipsiro troubles
Star runner Moses Kipsiro
What you need to know:
Athletics. UPDF Major Leonard Chemonges says Kipsiro is a treasured ambassador of the region and can’t be left to fight for justice single-handedly.
KAMPALA. Leaders of the three Sebei Region districts will meet in Kapchorwa tomorrow to forge a way of helping star runner Moses Kipsiro, Daily Monitor has learnt.
Sebei is composed of Kapchorwa, Bukwo and Kween districts. Kipsiro, who recently refused to represent Uganda at the World Cross-country Championships in China citing threats to his life, comes from Bukwo. He claimed that he received a threatening message on his phone, which he suspects was sent by Police coach Peter Wemali. While Kipsiro reported a case at Kampala Central Police Station last week, the source of the death threats is yet to be known. “Our elders have been touched by what is going on and want to help,” runner Simon Ayeko, who was arrested last week on suspicion that he set Wemali’s house on fire, said last evening. “I was invited for the meeting and I hope something good will come out,” added Ayeko, Kipsiro’s cousin.
Kipsiro (pictured right) has been in Kampala for more than a week now but confirmed he would travel to Kapchorwa for the meeting set to bring together RDCs, LC5 chairmen, sports officers and police commanders of the respective districts.
Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer Leonard Chemonges last week told Daily Monitor Sebei Region was bitter with the manner in which Kipsiro has been treated.
“I am very angry. The whole of Sebei Region is furious,” Chemonges, who works with State House as the deputy head in charge of political affairs, said. “How can one person disorganise a whole region, torture national athletes and nothing is done,” he wondered.
“I am not into this as a soldier or State House employee but a senior citizen of the Sabiny Community. We need justice for our people. 99 percent of the national team athletes are from Sebei but they are being abused. Unfortunately, no one seems to care. I think we need a local solution to this problem,” he angrily added.
Chemonges plans to ask the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to interest itself in the case and find out why Wemali can’t be punished or investigated at the very least.
“Are we waiting for Kipsiro to be killed and we start praising him for what he has done for this nation?” Chemonges said. Kapchorwa LC5 chairman Sam Cheptoris is coordinating tomorrow’s meeting.
