No fewer than eight Arsenal fans have been arrested after celebrating the club’s victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
The fans were dressed in Arsenal’s red jersey and carrying a symbolic trophy bought from a local store. According to the police, they didn’t have the authorization to hold the celebration, which is a public offense.
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The Arsenal fans were travelling in a convoy of five vehicles when the police stopped them in Jinja, Uganda. The regional police head, Mr Mubi, told BBC that he had not examined their charges but wondered why they were jubilating when only half of the matches in the season had been played.
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He denied the suggestion that the arrest was related to the constant arrest of members of an opposition party who also wear red.
“What would happen if an altercation with rival fans broke out? They did not inform the police to provide security for their procession,” Mr Mubi said.
However, a lawyer and rights activist, Agather Atuhaire told BBC that “Uganda police continue to be high-handed even after the constitutional court nullified all draconian provisions that gave them unfettered powers to restrict the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of association and assembly.”
