Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Win Inspires Ugandans
Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral race has sparked hope among Ugandans, showing that young leaders can succeed in politics, even if the success feels distant for those at home, AP reports.
Joel Ssenyonyi, an opposition lawmaker in Kampala, said Mamdani’s win is “a big encouragement,” but added, “we have a long way to get there.” Uganda has been under President Yoweri Museveni’s rule for nearly four decades, with opposition efforts repeatedly blocked. Museveni, seeking reelection in January, has resisted calls to step down, raising concerns about political stability.
Mamdani, born in Uganda in 1991, left the country at age five to follow his father, scholar Mahmood Mamdani, to South Africa and later moved to the United States. He retained his Ugandan citizenship even after naturalizing as a U.S. citizen in 2018. His mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, maintains strong ties to Kampala, where the family regularly returns.
His father, a Columbia University professor, is a major influence on Mamdani’s political outlook. Mahmood Mamdani has been critical of Museveni, contrasting his rule with that of the late dictator Idi Amin in his 2025 book, Slow Poison. Observers say Zohran follows the family tradition of challenging norms and thinking independently.
Retired media executive Robert Kabushenga noted Mamdani’s unconventional approach, calling him “a beacon of hope” for activists and a reminder to give youth meaningful political opportunities. Literature professor Okello Ogwang said Mamdani’s success underscores the importance of investing in young leaders.
As a teenager, Mamdani dabbled in music with rap groups Young Cardamom and HAB. He later became a New York assembly member in 2021, after working as a community activist in Queens, helping vulnerable residents facing eviction.
His mayoral campaign emphasized progressive policies such as free city buses, free child care, rent freezes for some apartments, and government-run grocery stores funded by taxes on the wealthy. Despite Republican criticism and threats to challenge his citizenship, Mamdani emerged victorious, showing resilience and inspiring others.
Kabushenga said Mamdani “breaks new ground” and is willing to pursue initiatives in unfamiliar spaces. Ssenyonyi added that while the achievement may feel far away for Ugandans, it is nonetheless inspiring: “Mamdani is Ugandan-born, like us.”
