Arsenal has a fervent following in Uganda. Yet to date, there have been very few Ugandan national players in the English Premier League.
Despite a crop of African players in major global football leagues, there are currently no Ugandan players in the EPL. This does not mean they are not represented. In fact, there has been a whole plethora of players in academies who have both British and Ugandan heritage. With the right training, these players may just be the next major global stars. Uganda currently has one of the biggest Arsenal followings in Africa, so could it be a feeding ground for the team’s next big African players?
African Supporters in Uganda
The EPL is a global phenomenon. You can walk into a bar in Bangkok and find it on as many screens as you would in central London. Africa is no different, and many of the foremost gambling operators take bets on Premier League games across the continent. Betway Premier League markets are vast, offering bets on not just wins and losses, but goals scored, first goalscorer and other options. This can add an extra layer of excitement to matches, along with the ability to benefit from introductory bonuses.
With growing mobile adoption rates, Ugandans have really taken to the EPL, being connected to it through their mobile devices. Uganda does its fair share of global support, especially for Arsenal, and this is evident in the parties and celebrations that take place whenever they win a game or have a huge achievement. In fact, many would say the country is the home of Arsenal in Africa.
Their April 2025 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League sent the country into a frenzy. So bad was the excitement that it even resulted in arrests for a series of illegal parades in which convoys drove around holding a homemade trophy. Churches become decked out in regalia, and people began to crowd into video halls to watch games.
Second in terms of support are Manchester United, and the rivalry is fierce between supporters. Swale Suleiman, a Manchester United fan and mechanic, told the BBC that EPL matches are competitive, entertaining and sometimes unpredictable, and even a “small team can cause an upset”.
Ovie Ejeheri
While no Ugandan players currently play at Arsenal or in the EPL, there have been several with Ugandan heritage who have ties to the league. Ovie Ejeheri is signed to FC Midtjylland, though he recently had a brief loan spell at FC Fredericia in the Danish Superliga. This keeper has heritage from England, Uganda and Nigeria, though he chose the latter at the international level. A goalkeeper, he cut his teeth at Arsenal, joining their academy spending 14 years with the club.
In an interview with Flashscore.com, he credited the time at his club as making him into the player he is today. In his own words, this was due to the best facilities and coaches being in England. During his time at the club, he had loan spells at Chelmsford and SJK in Finland, but just could not secure the coveted spot with the main team.
Ryan Kavuma-McQueen
Kavuma-McQueen is currently a winger for Chelsea, and though born in Britain, he is of Ugandan origin through his parents’ side. Though he can represent the country, he chooses to play for England.
He joined Chelsea’s academy. Last October, he was called up to the main team and was on the bench for a Champions League match against Dutch side Ajax. At the time of writing, he is lined up to make his debut in an FA Cup bout against Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham after several sessions of training with the first team.
Divine Mukasa
Divine Tayon Mahogany Mukasa was born in England to a Lithuanian mother and Ugandan father. He currently plays for Leicester City on loan from Manchester City, as an attacking midfielder. He started at West Ham, before heading north.
While playing for the championship side, his positive, optimistic attitude has been just as important as his on-field skills. At one point, he had four goal contributions in five games and had scored an outstanding equaliser in a game against Stoke. He is vibrant in interviews, often describing how “Every single game’s an opportunity to come away with three points.”
Quite why these two teams are so big in Africa is a mystery. While both do have global appeal, other clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea have no where near the following. With such big support for the EPL and Arsenal in Uganda, it is surprising that more players have not come through. This may require more funding and initiatives. With many teams from England starting to build this support network in Africa, Uganda may be the next hotspot on the football map.
