13 things about Kampala native Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda to Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Nair, who got married in 1991. Both Mahmood and Nair are of Indian descent.

Born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Mahmood is an anthropologist, an academic and a political commentator. Born in Rourkela, Orissa, India, Nair is a filmmaker.

BIOGRAPHY

Zohran is an Indian-Ugandan-American politician from New York City, New York, United States. He is a citizen of both Uganda and the U.S.

Before becoming a politician, Zohran worked as a housing counselor and a musician. He is a Democrat.

On October 18, 2025, Zohran turned 34. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. In 1996, he and his family moved from Kampala to Cape Town, South Africa and he entered St. George’s Grammar School in Cape Town.
2. In 1998, he and his family moved from Cape Town to New York City and he entered the Bank Street School for Children on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City.
3. In 2010, he graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in the Kingsbridge Heights of the Bronx in New York City.
4. In 2012, he became a shareholder of Real Oviedo, a professional football club based in Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
5. In 2014, he graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, USA with a bachelor’s degree in Africana studies.
6. In 2016, as an artist called Young Cardamom, he collaborated with Ugandan rapper HAB on an extended play called “Sidda Mukyaalo”.
7. In 2017, he joined the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
8. In 2018, he became a U.S. citizen.
9. In 2019, as an artist called Mr. Cardamom, he released a single titled “Nani”.
10. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020 and was reelected unopposed in 2022 and 2024.
11. In 2021, he met Rama Duwaji on the dating application Hinge.
12. In 2025, he married Duwaji.
13. In 2026, he will assume office as the New York City mayor.

TIMELINE

Aside from English, Zohran also speaks Arabic, Bengali, Hindi, Luganda and Spanish. He is Shia Muslim.

2010s

• On June 21, 2010, he graduated from the Bronx High School of Science.
• On May 24, 2014, he graduated from Bowdoin College.
• In October 2019, he announced his campaign to represent New York’s 36th district in the New York State Assembly.

2020s

• On January 1, 2021, he assumed office as a member of the New York State Assembly from the 36th district.
• In October 2024, he announced his candidacy for mayor of New York City and got engaged to Duwaji.
• In February 2025, he and Duwaji got married in a civil ceremony at the New York City Hall in New York City.
• In July 2025, he and Duwaji had a wedding ceremony in Uganda.
• On November 4, 2025, he was elected mayor of New York City.
• On January 1, 2026, he will assume office as the mayor of New York City.