Arsenal fans painted towns and cities across Uganda red on Sunday as they celebrated the club’s Premier League title triumph after a 22-year wait.
From Kampala to Mbarara, Hoima, Mbale and Soroti, Arsenal jerseys dominated the streets as fans marked the final day of the season with parades, music and celebrations. Reports indicated that most Arsenal jerseys on the market were sold out ahead of the title celebrations.
In Kampala, the biggest celebrations were held at Millennium Grounds in Lugogo during an event organized by Guinness, the official beer partner of the Premier League.
Fans started arriving at the venue hours before the 6pm kick-off, dressed in Arsenal jerseys and chanting club songs as they awaited the final whistle of the season.
“This is our day. We’ve waited for this trophy for over 20 years and the patience has finally paid off,” said Patience Asio, an Arsenal fan for 28 years.
“Many fans have been ridiculing us for seasons, calling us bridesmaids. After many years of being nearly men, now we have a say during fan banter,” added Jeff Musinguzi.
Excitement erupted across the venue when Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy, with fans waving scarves and celebrating around the Guinness Matchday Truck and viewing screens spread across the grounds.
Guinness Brand Manager Denise Paula Nazzinda said the turnout reflected Ugandans’ strong connection to the Premier League.
“Whether you’re an Arsenal fan or not, this has been a great season. It was so unpredictable that the champion had to emerge in the final week. This has been a sold-out event, and we look forward to creating more of these moments next season,” she said.
The event also featured entertainment and art activities, including a paint-and-sip session and a fashion showcase by Ekikumba Fusion during Elijah Kitaka’s performance.
Fik Fameica, an Arsenal supporter, excited revelers when he performed wearing a ‘Champion Bwoy’ jersey, while King Saha closed the night with an energetic performance alongside several Kampala DJs.
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