KAMPALA – Some Ugandans were elated on Nov 5 at the news that one of their countrymen, Mr Zohran Mamdani, had been elected mayor of New York, while many drew a complete blank.

Mr Mamdani, 34, a staunch leftist, became the first Muslim mayor of the United State’s biggest city after elections on Nov 4.

He was born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin and has lived in the US since he was seven.

There was some excitement at Makerere University in the Ugandan capital Kampala, where Mr Mamdani’s father was a senior academic until a few years ago.

“Seeing Zohran up there, I feel like I can also make it,” said Mr Anthony Kirabo, 22, a psychology student.

“It makes me feel good and proud of my country because it shows that Uganda can produce some good leaders,” he said, adding that he hoped it might encourage more tourists to come to the east African country.

But many had never heard of Mr Mamdani or the fact that a Ugandan had become the youngest mayor of New York in more than a century.

Others hoped Mr Mamdani’s victory would provide a lesson for Uganda’s own leaders as they head into a potentially fraught presidential election of their own in January, with 81-year-old Yoweri Museveni seeking a seventh term in power.

Mr Bobi Wine, the 43-year-old running against Mr Museveni in the election, sent “hearty congratulations” to Mr Mamdani.

“From Uganda, we celebrate and draw strength from your example as we work to build a country where every citizen can realise their grandest dreams regardless of means and background,” Mr Wine wrote on social media platform X.