Ugandans are beaming with pride following the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s new mayor. Born in Uganda and holding dual nationality, Mamdani has been hailed by many as “one of our own” and an inspiration for young people across the country.
Zohran, 34, is the son of Professor Mahmood Mamdani, a renowned Ugandan academic, and Mira Nair, an acclaimed filmmaker.
According to BBC reports, during his teenage years, Zohran interned at one of Uganda’s leading newspapers, where journalist Angelo Izama recalls he was “initially shy” but “absolutely determined to get things done.” Izama adds that Mamdani has always been “very fond of Kampala,” the nation’s capital.
Professor Okello Ogwang of Makerere University described Mamdani’s victory as a source of national pride. “We have one of us there,” he said. “It gives me hope that the children we are raising are the hope of this world. As a continent, we are missing out on the greatest resource we have, the youth.”
Students and young Ugandans are also inspired by Mamdani’s journey. Abno Collins Kuloba, a university student, said, “Wherever you have grown up, be it poor or rich, you can become something big, like what Mamdani has done.”
Another student, Chemtai Zamzam, called him an “inspiration” for showing that determination and faith can lead to achievement.
The Mamdani family’s influence extends beyond Uganda. Zohran spent formative years in Cape Town, South Africa, where his father chaired African Studies at the University of Cape Town.
Rashied Omar, imam of Cape Town’s Claremont Road Mosque, praised Zohran’s early experiences in South Africa for shaping his “creative, community-based approach to politics.”
Across Africa, leaders and commentators have celebrated Mamdani’s election as symbolic of progressive leadership.
Abdul Mohamed, a former senior UN and African Union official, said Mamdani embodies his father’s “commitment to pan-Africanism” and demonstrates how multi-ethnic, multi-religious identity can thrive in politics.
Even beyond Africa, his victory has been recognized as historic. South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) called it a “transformative moment” for the people of New York and a “powerful signal to the world” of the rise of justice-driven leadership. In Nigeria, Pastor Okezie J Atañi highlighted Mamdani’s resilience in the face of political pressure, praising the young mayor for standing firm against external threats.
At a time when Uganda itself faces national elections next year with President Yoweri Museveni seeking another term after nearly 40 years in power, Mamdani’s rise is being viewed as a beacon of hope for youth across Africa. His story resonates with those who dream of making a global impact while staying connected to their roots.
