Ugandan athlete and alleged sexual assault victim arrested

In a strange change of events, a 17-year-old Ugandan athlete who who fled a training camp after reportedly being a victim of sexual assault, has been arrested in Kapchorwa, a small town near the country’s eastern border.

The story, which was originally broken by a local newspaper who spoke with Ugandan Olympian Moses Kipsiro, reported that Peter Wemali, a coach at the camp, had told many of the women that they had to get pregnant to run faster and should have sex regularly.

The 17-year-old athlete, whose name has not been released, fled the camp with other athletes who protested against Wemali remaining a coach there and the lack of punishment against him. She was later told by police that Wemali had left the camp and been suspended. She returned to find he was still there. The coach hosted a meeting with the team and two other female athletes complained of stomach pains and were sent to a nearby hospital. The other athlete’s were later told the young girl’s bag had been searched and rat poison was found in it. She was then arrested.

The two athletes who were sent to the hospital were discharged the following day.

The athletics team, known as the Ugandan Police Athletics team, is managed and run by members of the police in the region and many of the athletes also work for the police. It’s not uncommon for athletes in East African countries to also work public service jobs which allow them to train as well. Wemali also works for the police.