Ugandan athlete stabbed to death in Kween

Kween.
Athletes from Sebei sub-region are mourning the death of one of their own, Alex Kapcheromit Cherop, 25, who was stabbed to death by his friend on Thursday night in his village of Kaworyo.

A man, a police officer, felt short-changed by his colleague Cherop, turned his frustration into bitterness and stabbed him with a traditional iron knife on the back of his neck.

Cherop, a PC59928 of Uganda Police Force, was killed as he came back from Bugema Trading Centre in Kween, eastern Uganda where he had spent an evening with friends, according to Kween District police commander, Mr John Nkundizana.

“The incident could have led to a replica of the Moyok inter-clan incident but the community was quick to alert us,” Mr Nkundizana said.

Police have since deployed in the area with officers who had been deployed in Moyok following last months’ incident.

An eyewitness, Isaac Bongin, also an athlete who was in their company says Chelimo could have been angered by a simple misunderstanding with the deceased earlier before they walked home.

“Alex offered us a drink in a joint but he left us there so the owner wanted his money but we didn’t have it. We were unhappy for this embarrassment but Alex later said he would clear the bill. We didn’t know it had not gone well with the suspects’s instincts,” Bongin says.

They were parting ways after making up on the evening events when the suspect who had earlier rushed home stabbed the deceased on the neck from the back. He died on spot.

Police arrested the suspect from their home and he is in custody at Kween Central Police Station.
Kapchorwa athletics police coach, Mr Benjamin Njia, regretted the incident. “It is so unfortunate. Cherop has been my front liner. This is a real blow to police and Uganda,” Mr Chelimo said.

Cherop has been a star in the Inter-forces 10km race with many local and international appearances in the past. His recent appearance is India where he came third in the World 10km race was in June.

Mr Njia says he was to travel to Kampala on Friday to pick his visa for the Netherlands 10 Hills Competitions where he would take part in the 15km race.

The president Uganda athletics Federation, Mr Dominic Otuket says he was shocked when he got the news of the death of the upcoming brilliant athlete. "This is really a sad happening. I got to learn of it late yesterday evening since I had gone upcountry to officiate a ceremony."