Arsenal fans’ procession causes five-hour traffic jam in Jinja City

Jinja city experienced severe traffic congestion for close to five hours on Sunday after thousands of Arsenal fans staged a celebratory procession following the English Premier League title triumph.

The celebrations came after Arsenal edged Manchester City in a dramatic title race, securing the championship with a game left to spare following City’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Bournemouth last Tuesday.

Arsenal are expected to officially receive the trophy in London following their away fixture against Crystal Palace. With the club winning the EPL title after a 22-year wait, hundreds of supporters from Busoga and other parts of the country converged in Jinja city to celebrate what they described as a rare achievement.

The festivities began with a physical exercise session at Busoga Kingdom headquarters, where most of the fans had gathered by 9 am.

They later embarked on a two-kilometre foot march stretching from the Busoga Kingdom headquarters through the transnational highway in Bugembe.

The procession, which initially comprised about 1,000 supporters dressed in Arsenal replica jerseys of different colours, later attracted larger crowds along the route. The expanding convoy included fans travelling on foot, motorcycles and vehicles.

One supporter stood atop a Toyota Land Cruiser TX vehicle with a concealed number plate while holding a replica EPL trophy high above the crowd for all to see. Other fans carried smaller replica trophies, posing for photographs as celebrations intensified.

Before setting off from Bugembe, the supporters were accompanied by a booming music system that blasted victory songs in praise of Arsenal. The fans later walked a five-kilometre stretch from Bugembe to Jinja city while waving both Ugandan and Arsenal flags in celebration of the title victory.

Some carried green leaves, which they waved in the air, while others blew vuvuzelas and whistles in excitement over Arsenal’s achievement. Organisers also deployed a first aid vehicle to attend to fans who became exhausted during the long trek under the scorching sun.

Although the procession was guided by traffic police officers who attempted to reserve space for other road users, many supporters reportedly ignored the guidelines. This resulted in a major traffic standoff, with motorists forced to wait for the celebrations to subside before proceeding with their journeys.

The celebrations later climaxed with the slaughter of 20 cows, which were roasted at different bars and restaurants across Jinja city’s central business district.

Led by Felix Bagiire, the chairperson of Arsenal fans in Busoga, organisers defended the celebrations, arguing that supporters had waited many years for the triumph.

Bagiire, commonly known as Shamlove, said he was only six years old when Arsenal last won the EPL title during the 2003/2004 season. He explained that growing up in a family dominated by Arsenal supporters exposed him to years of ridicule from rival fans whose clubs were performing better at the time.

According to Bagiire, the trophy parade was not only intended to celebrate Arsenal’s victory, but also to inspire fans to remain hopeful despite enduring long periods of disappointment.

Esther Nakimuli, 32, described herself as a diehard Arsenal supporter whose dream of witnessing the club lift the EPL trophy during adulthood had finally come true.

Nakimuli, who served on the organising committee for the parade, said Arsenal supporters have strong leadership structures across major towns and cities in Uganda, which made mobilisation for the celebrations easier.

“Our fanbase is so big and we pride in this level of brotherhood, which stretches beyond tribal and religious boundaries,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kiira regional police spokesperson James Mubi confirmed that organisers had received clearance from both police and the city security committee.

Mubi said the procession route had earlier been inspected by traffic police officers and that all parties had agreed on measures aimed at preventing dangerous overcrowding.

He added that any activities found to have violated public health guidelines intended to prevent the spread of Ebola would be investigated and those responsible arrested.lant scenes continued late into the night, with police and traffic officers deployed to manage crowds and restore order after the procession ended.

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المصدر: The Observer (Uganda)