Running title 1 Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental 2 health of sports fans

33 Background: Information regarding COVID-19 mental health burden among medical workers 34 and other vulnerable individuals has been hugely emphasized during the stressful campaign against 35 COVID-19, however, the mental health problems among sports fans and athletes of Africa and 36 globally have been neglected. The present studies investigated mental health burden and 37 knowledge of sport associated with mental health issues among sports fans. 38 Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken amongst sports fans above the age 39 of 18. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents (N=196). Data was 40 collected using google form for indications of anxiety and anger using a modified generalized 41 anxiety disorder (GAD-7) and Spielberger’s State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI42 2) as appropriate. 43 Results: Few sports fans (47.4%) knewknew COVID-19 mental health care. Sports fans who had 44 knowledge about mental health issues associated with sports had low levels of anxiety (R = 0.010; 45 P = 0.894) and anger (R = -0.025; P= 0.724) with increasing age. However, anxiety and anger 46 increase with age among female sports fans but reduce in males. Sports fans with partners have 47 high levels of anxiety and anger during lower age levels (below the 20s) and these decrease with 48 aging and this relationship is inverse in their single counterparts. 49 Conclusions: Most sports fans in Uganda are not knowledgeable about COVID-19 sports50 associated mental health issues and surprisingly this seems to be associated with less COVID-19 51 sports-related mental health issues during the lockdown. 52