Nile Special continued its nationwide FIFA World Cup fan experience with a major quarter-final watch party in Mbarara, bringing football fans together for a night of high-stakes football, entertainment, prizes and shared celebration at Green Park Stadium – Trends Bar.
The Mbarara watch party marked the third major stop in Nile Special’s FIFA World Cup campaign, following earlier major watch party experiences in Jinja and Gulu, alongside several smaller activations that have continued across the country throughout the tournament.
The night opened with the quarter-final clash between England and Croatia, a tense encounter that kept fans on edge until England secured a 2-1 victory. Schjelderup gave Norway the lead, Jude Bellingham equalised for England, before he found the net again in added time for a brace to give England the lead. The result sparked strong reactions across the venue as fans debated the performance, the goals and England’s continued push deeper into the tournament.
Later in the night, fans stayed on until 4am for Argentina’s quarter-final clash against Switzerland, which delivered even more drama. 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 equalised for Switzerland, before Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez struck in extra time to send Argentina through.
Despite the late-night fixture, the atmosphere remained lively, with fans staying engaged deep into the morning as the tournament entered its most decisive stages. The Mbarara crowd brought strong football energy to Green Park Stadium – Trends Bar, turning the venue into a full fan zone filled with cheers, predictions, debates, music, food and Nile Special’s tournament experience for adult consumers.
As part of the ongoing “Gwe Kafulu” score predictor campaign, fans also participated in activations at the venue, with a few lucky consumers walking away with prizes including a TV and microwave, courtesy of Nile Special’s partnership with Hisense Uganda.
The watch party also featured performances from local Mbarara artists, including Truth 256 and MC Kacheche, adding a strong Western Uganda entertainment flavour to the football experience. Sports journalist and football commentator Jermaine Egesa was also part of the night, helping drive the match-day energy and fan engagement around the quarter-final action.
Nile Special’s “Gwe Kafulu” campaign remains active, giving consumers an opportunity to predict match scores and stand a chance to win prizes as the FIFA World Cup continues. The brand’s “Cheers to Bars” initiative is also still ongoing, recognising bars as important social spaces where fans gather to watch football, connect with friends and share major sporting moments.
With Jinja, Gulu and Mbarara now completed as major regional watch party experiences, attention turns to Kampala, Kings’ Park Arena where Nile Special will host the next major watch party for the FIFA World Cup Final.
Fans in Kampala can expect the biggest experience yet, with final-match excitement, bigger crowds, more fan engagement, “Gwe Kafulu” activations, entertainment, prizes and the full Nile Special football atmosphere that has defined the campaign across the country.