Chaos in Jinja City as Arsenal Fans’ Parade Causes Extended Traffic Jam

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1342 EAT on Monday 25 May 2026

Jinja City experienced heavy traffic congestion lasting nearly five hours on Sunday after thousands of Arsenal supporters staged a celebratory procession following the club’s English Premier League title triumph.

The celebrations followed Arsenal’s narrow title win over Manchester City, securing the championship with a game to spare after City’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth earlier in the week.
Arsenal are expected to officially receive the trophy in London after their away fixture against Crystal Palace. The victory, ending a 22-year wait for the league title, drew hundreds of supporters from Busoga and other parts of the country to Jinja City for celebrations described as historic by fans.

The festivities began in the morning with a fitness session at the Busoga Kingdom headquarters, where most supporters had gathered by around 9 a.m.

Fans later embarked on a two-kilometre procession from the kingdom headquarters through the Kampala–Jinja highway in Bugembe.

What initially started with about 1,000 supporters in Arsenal replica jerseys of various colours quickly swelled as more joined along the route.

The growing convoy included fans on foot, motorcycles and vehicles. At one point, a supporter stood atop a Toyota Land Cruiser TX with a concealed number plate, holding a replica Premier League trophy aloft as the crowd cheered, while others carried smaller replicas and paused for photographs as celebrations intensified along the route.

Before setting off from Bugembe, the supporters were accompanied by a loud music system playing victory songs in praise of Arsenal. They later marched a five-kilometre stretch from Bugembe to Jinja City, waving both Ugandan and Arsenal flags in celebration of the club’s title win.

Some fans carried green branches, which they waved in the air, while others blew vuvuzelas and whistles in jubilant celebration of Arsenal’s achievement. Organisers also deployed a first aid vehicle to attend to supporters who became exhausted during the long procession under the scorching sun.

Although the march was escorted by traffic police officers who attempted to allocate space for other road users, many supporters reportedly ignored the guidelines. This led to a major traffic standoff, with motorists forced to remain stationary for hours until the celebrations subsided.

The festivities later climaxed with the slaughter of 20 cows, which were roasted at various 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, saying supporters had waited many years for the club’s long-awaited triumph.

Felix Bagiire, commonly known as Shamlove, said he was only six years old when Arsenal last won the English Premier League title in the 2003/2004 season. He noted that growing up in a household of Arsenal supporters exposed him to years of ridicule from rival fans whose clubs were performing better at the time.

Bagiire said the trophy parade was not only meant to celebrate Arsenal’s long-awaited triumph but also to encourage supporters to remain hopeful despite years of disappointment.
Esther Nakimuli, 32, a self-described diehard Arsenal fan and member of the organising committee, said her dream of witnessing the club lift the EPL trophy in adulthood had finally been realised.

Nakimuli said Arsenal supporters have established strong coordination structures across major towns and cities in Uganda, which helped ease mobilisation for the celebrations.

“Our fanbase is so big and we pride ourselves 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.

He said the procession route had been inspected in advance by traffic police and that all stakeholders had agreed on measures aimed at preventing overcrowding and ensuring public safety.

Mubi added that any activities found to have violated public health guidelines intended to prevent the spread of Ebola would be investigated, and those responsible would be held accountable.

Despite the official clearance, chaotic scenes continued late into the night as police and traffic officers remained deployed to manage crowds and restore order after the procession ended.

-Observer

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