More than eight Arsenal supporters were arrested in Uganda after celebrating the team’s victory against Manchester United in the English Premier League.
The supporters carried a symbolic trophy while donning the club’s red shirts in the streets of Jinja. According to the police, the procession was held without a permit, which is a violation of public order.
Sunday’s game against a fierce rival ended with a dramatic last-second goal from Arsenal, giving them a 3-2 victory. As a result, the Gunners now have a five-point lead over Manchester City, giving supporters all around the world hope that the club might finally end its 19-year wait to win the English Premier League.
On Monday morning, the Arsenal fans were driving in a convoy of five vehicles when they were stopped by law enforcement. One of them was carrying a trophy that they’d purchased from a nearby shop.
One of the arrested fans stated, “I don’t know what we have done, but we were just enjoying our triumph against rival Manchester United.”
The area police chief and self-professed Arsenal supporter, James Mubi, told the BBC that he had not looked into the allegations against the supporters but questioned why they were celebrating when just half of the season’s games had been played.
Mr. Mubi rejected the idea that the arrest was connected to the frequent arrests of red-clad opposition party members. He stated, “What would happen if a fight between opposing fans started?” They neglected to contact the police to request security for their procession.
According to human rights organizations, the Public Order Management Act has given police discretionary powers that have been used to repress citizens’ rights.
Lawyer and human rights campaigner Agather Atuhaire told the BBC that Uganda’s police “remain high-handed even after the Constitutional Court overturned all the draconian clauses that allowed them unrestricted powers to limit the constitutionally given freedom of association and assembly.”
Uganda is a football-crazed country; sports bars are always jam-packed when Arsenal or Manchester United play because of their enormous fan bases throughout the country.
Is Arsenal capable of winning the Premier League this season?
That question is being answered more emphatically in the positive with each subsequent game. Another test was passed with yesterday’s thrilling triumph over Manchester United, which was sealed by Eddie Nketiah’s goal with 47 seconds left in regulation.
The 23-year-old scored twice in a fantastic game to settle the dispute and increase Arsenal’s lead at the top to five points. Their late siege proved impossible for United to withstand. Late wins can change title races, as Sir Alex Ferguson will attest while watching.
When Arsenal’s talisman Gabriel Jesus got injured at last year’s World Cup, many pundits believed that it would derail Arsenal’s campaign. However, the Gunners have discovered a local hero in Nketiah, who is more than capable of filling the Brazilian’s shoes.
After Marcus Rashford’s amazing start for United, Arsenal had to come back, and then they had to come again after Lisandro Martinez’s equalizer with 30 minutes remaining. This mental toughness was lacking in Arsenal’s squads of previous seasons, and yesterday’s win proved many doubters wrong.
Arsenal have shown that they are capable of going all the way. They have displayed all the qualities of a complete squad, finding ways to win no matter what. Arsenal is made up of young players who are hungry for success, and it would take a lot to stop them.