‘One of us’: Ugandan pride in New York mayor with roots in their country

Many Ugandans are expressing their pride in the newly elected mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and retains dual nationality.Some have described him as one of “their own”, saying he inspires them.A journalist who mentored him during his teenage internship at one of Uganda’s leading newspapers told the BBC that there was a “lot of excitement” in Uganda about Mamdani’s rise especially because of his young age. Uganda has the second-lowest median age worldwide of just 16.2, according to the CIA World Factbook.Zohran, 34, is the son of Prof Mahmood Mamdani, a prominent Ugandan academic, while his mother, Mira Nair, is an acclaimed filmmaker.

Journalist Angelo Izama told the BBC’s Newsday programme that the younger Mamdani was “initially shy” while they worked together, but was “absolutely determined to get things done”.He says Zohran is “very fond of Kampala”, Uganda’s capital, which he often mentions.Mahmood Mamdani was raised in Uganda and worked for more than a decade at Makerere University, the country’s main and oldest university. He met his wife in Kampala while she was researching Mississippi Masala, a film about the expulsion of Asians from Uganda under Idi Amin.Prof Mamdani is known for his anti-colonialist scholarship, which examines the legacy of colonialism in Africa and its impact on governance, identity and justice.

Makerere University professor Okello Ogwang says he “feels great” about Zohran’s success, describing him as the “son of a colleague. This is somebody from home”.”We have one of us there,” he told the BBC.”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.”While many Ugandans had not heard of Zohran until his election, a student at the university said people were “very happy”, saying it proved that anyone could rise above their background.”It gives morale, especially to us as youths,” said Abno Collins Kuloba.

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