A fan of English football club Arsenal was reportedly shot dead by a security officer in Uganda while celebrating the team’s victory over Manchester United.
Another fan was hurt when a guard opened fire on a large gathering of happy fans at a restaurant in Lukaya town, central Uganda, around 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the capital Kampala.
It occurred near the end of the contest, which Arsenal won 2-0.
A local journalist told the BBC that the building’s manager was enraged by the happy supporters’ noise and requested that the guard intervene.
However, the fans ignored a caution to be quiet. Witnesses informed journalist Farish Magembe that the proprietor turned off the electricity to the restaurant, which enraged the supporters, who retaliated by creating even more noise.
The guard allegedly opened fire, firing several shots.
The victim, 30-year-old John Ssenyonga, died at the scene. Lawrence Mugejera, another long-time Arsenal fan, was admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Following the event, both the building’s guard and manager are on the run, with authorities seeking for them.
The Daily Monitor newspaper quoted Twaha Kasirye, the regional police spokesman, as claiming that they had retrieved a gun at the scene.
“We condemn the incident and we ask anyone with information that can help the police to bring the suspect to book to speak up,” he said.
He also asked followers to temper their excitement. Tensions and deadly violence resulting from football match results, particularly between English clubs, are not unusual in a country where the English Premier League is closely watched.
In October, an Arsenal fan stabbed a Manchester United fan after the two clashed about the outcome of a match between Arsenal and Liverpool.
In January of last year, a youth councillor died from stab wounds in Kampala after intervening in a fight following Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City.
Just a week earlier, an Arsenal fan was bludgeoned to death in Adjumani, West Nile area.
