Couple murdered on honeymoon – family raise more than £15k for local guide also killed in the attack by terrorists in Uganda

More than £15,000 has been raised in memory of a couple murdered on their honeymoon.

David Barlow and Celia Geyer were attacked and killed while on safari in the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, on October 17.

They had married just days before in Celia’s home country of South Africa.

Uganda Police said they believe the couple – and their local guide, Eric Alyai – were killed by ISIS-affiliated terrorist group, Allied Democratic Forces.

And now family and friends of the couple are raising money in their memory to support Eric’s widow and young daughter.

They hoped to raise £500 but at the time of publication the total stood at £15,145.

Hundreds of people attended the funerals of David and Celia last Wednesday at St Mary’s Church, Hampstead Norreys, where the couple had lived.

Many more joined the service on Zoom.

Peter Barlow, David’s brother, said: “‘We would like to thank everyone who attended David and Celia’s funeral on Wednesday in person at Hampstead Norreys church and online.

“It was wonderful to see so many people from their childhoods to the present day who knew them, come along and remember and celebrate David and Celia’s lives.

“We would also like to thank everyone for their generous donations in memory of David and Celia to driver Eric Alyai’s family, who was tragically killed with them.”

You can add to the fundraiser here – https://tinyurl.com/mvw465nw

The couple were well-known figures in the community.

David was the chairman of Hampstead Norreys Cricket Club and the parish council chairman, while Celia was a keen cyclist.

The cricket club has said in a statement that it was a privilege to have known ‘Lord Barlow’ as he was affectionately known by many.

At the time of their deaths a spokesperson for Hampstead Norreys Parish Council said: “David was an exceptional chairman who served Hampstead Norreys Parish Council for more than a decade.

“He was a pillar of the community, always prioritising their needs, especially during the flooding incidents that affected the village.

“He was a strong advocate for the local schools and his life was dedicated to the betterment of the community where he grew up and lived.

“It is difficult to express in words the extent of his contributions, and the village will undoubtedly be poorer without him.”

Church bells rang half-muffled in tribute to the couple at St Mary’s Church, on October 24.

Candles and tributes were also left in the church following the incident, as the community tried to process its shock and grief.

Last month it was reported that the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) had tracked down the terrorists responsible for their deaths and they had been killed.

A spokesperson for the UPDF, Lieutenant Colonel Deo Akiiki, said a group of ADF fighters had been tracked down and killed in an operation launched after the murders of David and Celia.

The Ugandan army added that it was continuing to track down all of the splinter groups of the ADF.

According to a post on X (formerly Twitter), shared by the Ugandan police force, the attack took place on October 17 at around 6pm on the Katwe-Kabatooro Murram road.

At the time, the president of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri K Museveni, condemned the attack and also sent his condolences to the families of David and Celia.