Source: Pexels
The English Premier League is now a global spectacle. Figures show that around 1.87 billion people tune in to watch it across the globe. This has meant that support shows up in the most unexpected of places, and for Arsenal, one location could lay claim to the most fervent of fanbases outside London. Uganda, the landlocked East African nation, has a zealous following for the Gunners that only gets more passionate each season.
Uganda’s EPL Celebrations
If you had been in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, in 2023, you may have assumed you were in central London or elsewhere in the UK. Arsenal had made it through the Champions League quarter finals, beating heavyweight Spanish side Real Madrid 3-0. Drumming began, parties formed outside bars and cinemas, and festivities went on well into the night.
This is a standard scene across Uganda when Arsenal win games. One of the most supported teams in the country, they are part of a huge football subculture that is rampant across its provinces, and to some extent, wider East Africa.
The Football Industry in Uganda
Source: Pexels
Around this football fever, a whole industry has grown to cater for it. A whole range of retailers sell bootleg shirts, with shops stocking everything from scarves to hats. Even businesses will target advertising around the results. Churches have also been known to get in on the act, decking themselves out in team colours before games.
Not only is watching and celebrating wins popular in Uganda, but a rise has been noted in online betting Uganda. With better connections and mobile adoption rates, fans can now add an extra layer to the game by placing wagers. These can be done on everything from outright wins to bets such as over/under on goals scored. Markets also stretch to other popular sports, such as basketball.
Central to this are video halls. These makeshift cinemas come as social spaces, showing games on televisions in real time. Many can be full to the rafters, and are places where people come to celebrate after the match is over.
Heated Rivalries
Support also runs high for Manchester United, and this can sometimes spill over into unwanted clashes between fans. There have been incidents of fans being arrested, and a spate of arrests made due to EPL performances and fan reactions.
Large processions and parties have also often fallen foul of authorities. In 2023, it was widely reported that Arsenal supporters in the city of Jinja were in breach of a public order offence. They had held a procession in which they carried a large symbolic trophy around the town. All of this was after a win against Manchester United, and consisted of a convoy of five vehicles moving on roads around the town centre.
Oddly, there have been few Ugandan players in the Arsenal squad. With more global appeal, this could be a possible place for Arsenal to set up feeder training camps and schools. By scouting in the local area, they could enhance their squad depth while building on this support.
