Kampala: Ugandan First Lady Janet Museveni has mourned the death of the country's Olympic star athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat, who was stabbed to death in neighbouring Kenya on New Year's Eve.
Museveni, who is also Uganda's minister of education and sports, said in a statement posted on her official X handle, formerly Twitter, that she learnt with great sadness about the gruesome murder of Benjamin Kiplagat, 3,000 meters steeplechase record holder killed at Texas, Eldoret in western Kenya on Saturday night.
The body of Kiplagat, who competed in three Olympic Games and six World Championships, was discovered in a car on the outskirts of Eldoret, a high-altitude town in western Kenya, renowned as a training base for elite athletes. He won a bronze medal at the 2012 African Championships.
"This truly wonderful spirited son of ours had his life ended and taken from this earth for selfish reasons. My deepest sympathy goes out to our nation, his family, and the entire sports fraternity," wrote Museveni.
The Kenyan-born Kiplagat, 34, had represented Uganda internationally in the 3,000m steeplechase, including several Olympic Games and World Championships.
The local media reports that Kiplagat had been training in the Eldoret area before going to Uganda to take part in competitions.
"My office will be in touch with his family to provide support and assistance in this trying period," wrote Museveni.
"We pray that the perpetrators will be brought to book and that justice will prevail," she added.
At least two suspects arrested in connection with the murder of the athlete appeared in court in western Kenya on Tuesday. (UNI)
