A supporter of the English football club Arsenal, who was celebrating the team’s win against Manchester United, has reportedly been shot and killed by a security guard in Uganda. Another supporter sustained injuries when the guard opened fire on a large gathering of enthusiastic fans at a restaurant in Lukaya town, located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Kampala, the capital.
The incident occurred near the end of the match, during which Arsenal was leading with a score of two goals to none, as reported by Africa24hrs. Tensions escalated when the restaurant’s manager, disturbed by the noise from the celebrating fans, requested the guard to take action.
Witnesses informed Africa24hrs that the fans ignored a warning to lower their volume, prompting the owner to cut the power supply to the restaurant. This action further incited the fans, leading to an increase in noise. It was at this point that the guard allegedly discharged his weapon multiple times.
The deceased has been identified as 30-year-old John Ssenyonga, who died at the scene, while another long-time Arsenal supporter, Lawrence Mugejera, was hospitalized for his injuries. Both the security guard and the building manager have fled the scene, and police are actively searching for them.
Regional police spokesperson Twaha Kasirye stated in the Daily Monitor that a firearm was recovered at the location. He condemned the incident and urged anyone with information to assist the police in apprehending the suspect. He also called on fans to manage their excitement, noting that tensions and violent incidents related to football matches, particularly involving English clubs, are not uncommon in Uganda, where the English Premier League enjoys significant following.
In a related incident last October, an Arsenal fan was involved in a stabbing of a Manchester United supporter following a dispute over the results of a match between Arsenal and Liverpool.
In January of the previous year, a youth councilor succumbed to stab wounds in Kampala after attempting to mediate a conflict that arose following Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City. This incident occurred just a week after an Arsenal supporter was fatally attacked in Adjumani, located in the West Nile district.
