Ugandans react with joy after Kampala-born Mamdani’s victory during a trying time for democracy in east Africa
Ugandans reacted with joy and of hope to the news that Kampala-born Zohran Mamdani had been elected mayor of New York City, amid a stormy democratic and rights environment in east Africa.
Mamdani, who was born in Uganda 34 years ago to a family of Indian origin, on Tuesday defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa to become the city’s first Muslim mayor and the first of south Asian heritage.
He has lived in the US since he was seven years old. In his 20s, under the stage name Young Cardamom, he made music with Ugandan rapper HAB.
Many in Uganda had not heard of Mamdani before the election win or that a Ugandan had become the youngest mayor of New York City in more than a century.
