A Sunday Mass service at St Mary Assumpta Catholic Church, Ragem Parish, in Arua City, Uganda, took an unexpected twist when a vibrant group of Arsenal supporters, under the West Nile Arsenal Fans Association Uganda (WAFA), joined the congregation clad in their iconic red jerseys.

Led by Chairman General Papa Wemba, the group injected energetic songs and traditional dancing down the church aisle mid-mass, leaving a section of the congregation stunned while bringing an unscripted carnival atmosphere to the liturgical service.

Priest commendation

Rather than dismissing the interruption, Parish Priest Father Calbert Achora warmly welcomed the supporters. He commended the group for bringing energy to the church and noted that worshipping together in sports attire highlights how football can foster spiritual growth, unity, and holistic well-being among the youth.

Fans welcome new priest

The church takeover is the latest in a series of community-focused initiatives by the West Nile Gunners. The association recently made headlines after turning out in massive numbers to welcome the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Reverend Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, to Arua.

The procession drew overwhelming crowds, momentarily bringing traffic along the Arua Hill–Arua Golf Course road to a standstill. During that visit, Archbishop Kaziimba—himself a self-confessed Arsenal fan—challenged the supporters to harness their unyielding team spirit toward driving social and economic growth across Uganda.

The fn craze of Arsenal’s love in East Africa came to the fore in May 2026 after the Gunners were crowned the English champions, ending a 22year wait for the domestic trophy. The triumph saw massive crowds of supporters celebrate the long-awaited football feat, with Kenyan fans repeatedly convening in the capital’s Central Business District for celebrations.

The West Nile region’s fanatical attachment to the North London club is well-documented.

The area’s deep-rooted passion made international headlines in October 2023 following the tragic death of Fostine Androdiko, a staunch supporter who collapsed and died while celebrating a late Arsenal equaliser against Chelsea in 2023.

WAFA’s latest church appearance reinforces how deeply embedded the Gunners’ identity has become in the social and religious fabric of northern Uganda.