Police in Uganda have released seven of the eight Arsenal fans who were arrested for allegedly participating in illegal processions.
The fans who were apprehended on Jinja’s streets on Monday were released on Tuesday evening after hours of detention, with all charges dropped.
One of them, however, will remain in detention due to a previous robbery accusation, according to the police.
Their celebration came after the club’s 3-2 triumph against rivals Manchester United on Sunday in the English Premier League.
Kiira region Police spokesperson James Mubi warned the fans before their unconditional release, according to local media.
Defending the action taken by the police, Mubi told NTV Uganda, “The focus is on the methodology they used, priority should be life first because what if a Manu fan or any person hits you and you get hurt or even die?”
The fans, donning the club’s jerseys, are said to have been traveling in a convoy of five vehicles on Monday morning when they were intercepted by police.
One of them was said to be carrying a trophy.
While the arrest attracted condemnation from across the globe, police say they were enforcing the Public Order Management Act that prohibits the holding of processions without permission from the authorities.
The fans’ leaders admitted they had broken the law by not seeking for authorisation from the police.
