Arsenal title party invitation leaves Museveni unimpressed

__________________

President Yoweri Museveni amused Parliament by recounting how enthusiastic supporters of Arsenal invited him to join celebrations after the London club ended a 22-year wait for the English Premier League title.

Arsenal were crowned champions of the 2025/26 Premier League season after nearest rivals Manchester City failed to catch them at the top of the table.

Managed by Mikel Arteta, the Gunners secured their first league title since the famous 2003/04 “Invincibles” campaign and lifted the trophy following a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on the final day of the season.

But while Arsenal fans across Uganda were planning celebrations, Museveni said his attention remained fixed on economic transformation, job creation and poverty eradication.

Speaking during the first sitting of the first meeting of the first session of Uganda’s 12th Parliament at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Monday, May 25, 2026, the President said football success could not distract him from national priorities.

“I was a footballer myself. Nobody can tell me about football, but I gave up football in 1966. I am now concentrating on liberation, poverty and jobs.”

The President revealed that some supporters had written to him inviting him to participate in celebrations for Arsenal’s triumph, an invitation he politely declined.

“Somebody was writing to me that I should attend a celebration for Arsenal Football Club for winning a trophy. No, I do not see the need,” he said.

Museveni said sports celebrations should not overshadow the need for leaders and citizens to focus on improving livelihoods.

“You can have your Arsenal and all those things, but start with the people, please. Start with your own people, start with (helping, teaching) your own people,” the President said, drawing laughter from some Members of Parliament and football fans.

For Museveni, however, football trophies remain secondary to what he describes as the more pressing challenge of creating jobs and lifting households out of poverty.

The President’s comments echoed sentiments expressed earlier by Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze, who recently shared his frustration after receiving requests from Arsenal supporters seeking financial contributions for victory parties.

In a social media post, Tumwebaze joked that he had expected requests for coffee seedlings, poultry feeds or agricultural inputs but was instead asked to contribute towards an Arsenal celebration.

“Stress in the morning! Imagine getting an early morning call and one asking to ‘kindly help’. What help? Not buying coffee seedlings, not poultry feeds, nothing. But asking a contribution towards their mbaga (celebration) for Arsenal. Very annoying. We need a serious mindset change,” Tumwebaze wrote.

Uganda has passionate followers of English football, with Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea supporters regularly organising public screenings and celebrations. Arsenal’s latest title success, their first in more than two decades, sparked jubilant scenes among supporters in many parts of the country.