Moses Kipsiro’s cousin brother Simon Ayeko has been taken into police custody following a tragic incident that saw the house of embattled athletics coach Peter Wemali get burnt on Sunday night.
National runner and 2011 World Military Games 3,000m steeplechase gold medalist Simon Ayeko, was arrested from Bukwo on Monday on suspicion that he set coach Peter Wemali’s house located in Kapchorwa ablaze.
Patrick Odokonyero, the Kapchorwa District Police Commander, confirmed to Daily Monitor that the athlete, also a cousin to Commonwealth gold medalist Moses Kipsiro, was apprehended and is currently detained at Kapchorwa Police Station.
“Yes, we have him (Ayeko),” he said. “He was seen around the house and witnesses have pinned him. We were told they were two people but we are yet to get the other suspect.”
This follows events where Moses Kipsiro, a highly Ugandan athlete withdrew form the national athletics team that traveled to Guiyang, China for the World cross country championships last week.
Kipsiro, Uganda’s only gold medalist at last year’s Commonwealth Games, was forced off the team after receiving death threats he suspected were from Wemali.
The saga commenced in march last year, after the Africa Cross Country championships when Moses Kipsiro revealed to media that Peter Wemali sexually harassing junior female runners.
The duo have since been at loggerheads and Kipsiro still thinks coach Wemali should be banned from the sport.
Kipsiro says he learnt of the arson news from his neighbor Dennis Kiprotich, who called him on Tuesday, to inform him that he was a “wanted man” and was being alleged to also have been involved in the incidence.
“I received a call from my neighbour telling me that I am a wanted man. That I was with Ayeko and we burnt the house together,” Kipsiro, who has been in Kampala since last Thursday, told Daily Monitor.
“This is unbelievable. I don’t even know where Wemali’s house is. Did I use a chopper to Kapchorwa and back?” shocked Kipsiro added.
The neighbor Kiprotich, had earlier been called by Wemali, the coach accusing Kipsiro of having connived with the cousin to burn his house.
“He (Wemali) hadn’t called me in more than a month so I was surprised to receive his call. He said he suspected Ayeko and Kipsiro but I don’t want to believe it. Ayeko was here in Bukwo until Sunday evening,” Kiprotich said.
“He has been feeling unwell and I doubt he travelled to Kapchorwa later in the night.”
Wemali admitted that his house had been burnt on Sunday, and promised to make further statements on the matter. On the other hand Kipsiro believes the arson case must have been a set-up aimed at frustrating his efforts to prompt authorities to take appropriate action.
UAF and Police have since remained silent about Kipsiro’s push for justice. Wemali works for both institutions as a coach and Kipsiro suspects they are covering up for his wrongs.
In his communication to local media, he said this shall not stop him from taking part in athletics as he fights for the good of the sport. Kipsiro is a four-time Ugandan cross country champion having won every race from 2008 to 2011.
He is the Ugandan record holder for the 3000 metres and 5000 metres on the track, as well as for the 10K road distance.
