New York, NY, July 27, 2025: New York Assemblymember and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani recently marked his marriage to artist Rama Duwaji with a three-day family celebration at his family’s estate in Kampala, Uganda.
The event, held in mid-July at the Mamdani family compound on Buziga Hill overlooking Lake Victoria, followed a civil wedding earlier this year in New York City and a private engagement and Nikkah ceremony in Dubai last December. The Kampala gathering brought together relatives and close friends from around the world.
Photos and accounts shared on social media described a festive atmosphere, with floral decorations, music, and Ugandan and Indian-inspired cuisine. Guests traveled to the venue in chartered buses and private vehicles, and security measures included restricted phone use.
Mamdani, 32, is the son of renowned scholar Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair. He represents Astoria, Queens, in the New York State Assembly and is currently running for mayor of New York City on a progressive platform.
His bride, Rama Duwaji, 28, is a Syrian American illustrator and animator whose work explores themes of migration and identity. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and New York’s School of Visual Arts, Duwaji’s art has been featured in publications including The New Yorker and The Washington Post.
The Kampala celebration sparked discussion online, with some critics questioning the scale of the event amid a period of mourning in Uganda for former Supreme Court judge George Kanyeihamba. Supporters, meanwhile, characterized the gathering as a private family occasion.
Mamdani addressed the online attention in a lighthearted video message ahead of the trip, reaffirming his connection to Uganda and noting he would return to New York by the end of July.
The couple’s relationship began in 2022 after meeting on a dating app. They announced their engagement in October 2024 and were wed at New York’s City Clerk’s Office earlier this year.
Cover photo: Mamdani and Duwajee at their New York wedding. Photo courtesy: Zohran Mamdani/Rama Duwajee/IG.
