By Victor Kanayo
Police in Uganda have arrested some Arsenal fans in an area known as Jinja, for allegedly celebrating their English Premier League (EPL) win over Manchester.
Specically, the fans numbering 20 were arrested for taking part in a trophy parade on the street.
As at the time of the arrest, they were wearing the club’s red jersey and carrying a symbolic trophy.
The gunners beat United 3-2 with a stopage time strike winner from Eddie Nketiah, a victory that reinforced their title credentials.
The win leaves Mikel Arteta’s side five points clear with a game in hand, exactly halfway into the season.
On why the fans were arrested, Police said they didn’t have a permit to hold the procession which is a public order offence.
According to Daily Monitor as reported by BBC, a local news site, a police patrol vehicle pulled in front of the jubilant fans and asked each one of them to disembark and climb the patrol car which was destined for the Jinja Police Station.
The Arsenal fans were travelling in a convoy of five vehicles on Monday morning, when they were intercepted by police.
One of them was carrying a trophy they had bought at a local store.
“I don’t know what we have done but we were simply celebrating our victory over rivals Manchester United,” Arsenal fan Baker Kasule is quoted by BBC as telling by Daily Monitor.
James Mubi, the regional police boss and a self-declared Arsenal fan, told the BBC he had not reviewed the fans’ charges but wondered why they were celebrating when only half of the matches in the season had been played.
In Africa, most sports lovers are particularly interested and follow football.
Most of these football enthusiasts prefer to be identified with top EPL clubs, including Arsenal and Manchester United.
