Mbarara turns up for Nile Special World Cup watch party as Kampala final awaits

MBARARA, Uganda — Football fans in Mbarara turned up in large numbers as Nile Special brought its nationwide FIFA World Cup fan experience to Western Uganda for a major quarterfinal watch party at Green Park Stadium-Trends Bar.

The massive turnout in Mbarara marked the third major regional stop in Nile Special’s FIFA World Cup campaign, following successful activations in Jinja and Gulu, alongside several smaller viewing events that continue across the country.

Fans filled the venue early to witness the quarterfinal clash between England and Norway, a tense encounter that kept the crowd on edge until England secured a 2-1 victory. Andreas Schjelderup gave Norway the lead, Jude Bellingham equalized for England, and Bellingham found the net again in added time to secure the victory. The dramatic finish sparked intense debates across the venue as fans dissected the goals and England’s push into the semifinals.

The energy remained high well into the night, with the crowd staying until 4 a.m. for Argentina’s quarterfinal clash against Switzerland. After the match ended 1-1 at full time, Argentina found another gear in extra time to win 3-1. Alexis Mac Allister gave Argentina the lead, Dan Ndoye equalized for Switzerland, and Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez struck in extra time to send Argentina through.

Despite the late-night fixture, the Mbarara crowd transformed Green Park Stadium-Trends Bar into a vibrant fan zone filled with cheers, score predictions, music, food and Nile Special’s tournament experience.

As part of the ongoing Gwe Kafulu score predictor campaign, consumers participated in venue activations, with a few lucky winners walking away with prizes including a television and microwave, courtesy of Nile Special’s partnership with Hisense Uganda.

The night also featured performances from local Mbarara artists, including Truth 256 and MC Kacheche, adding a Western Uganda entertainment flavor to the football experience. Sports journalist and commentator Jermaine Egesa helped drive the match-day energy and fan engagement throughout the quarterfinals.

Nile Special’s Gwe Kafulu campaign remains active, giving consumers an opportunity to predict match scores and win prizes as the tournament progresses. The brand’s Cheers to Bars initiative also continues to recognize bars as vital social spaces where fans gather to connect and share major sporting moments.

With Jinja, Gulu and Mbarara now successfully completed, attention turns to Kampala’s Kings’ Park Arena, where Nile Special will host its next major watch party for the FIFA World Cup final.

Fans in Kampala can expect the biggest experience of the campaign, featuring final-match excitement, larger crowds, Gwe Kafulu activations, live entertainment, prizes and the signature Nile Special football atmosphere.