NUP leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, has joined global voices celebrating Zohran Kwame Mamdani’s election as the Mayor of New York City a victory already being hailed as historic and transformative.
In his message on X, Bobi Wine said Mamdani’s victory carries great significance and inspires many Ugandans to remain steadfast in their efforts to build a better country.
“Sending our hearty congratulations to Mamdani upon beating all odds to get elected as the Mayor of New York City! From Uganda, we celebrate & 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,” Kyagulanyi stated.
At just 34, Mamdani has rewritten political history. The democratic socialist from Queens becomes the first Muslim and first African-born individual to lead the United States’ largest city defeating former New York governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Official results show Mamdani crossing the 50 percent mark, while Cuomo trailed slightly above 40 percent and Sliwa posted about 7 percent.
Mamdani’s journey has deep connections to Uganda. Born in 1991 at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala, he has frequently spoken with pride about his ties to the country and his admiration for Bobi Wine not only as a political figure but also as a musician.
Many Ugandans still remember his Luganda track “Kanda,” released in 2015, which captured public attention due to his accent and unexpected fluency.
His solidarity with Uganda’s opposition also predates his own rise. Ahead of the 2021 Ugandan presidential election, Mamdani wrote.
“I was born in Nsambya Hospital, Kampala in 1991. I’ve only ever known one Ugandan president – Yoweri Museveni. Today, he is running for re-election yet again. In his way is @HEBobiwine. Politics is never easy but Bobi’s run for office has been much more than just “difficult”. He’s been tortured, imprisoned, & seen others suffer the same fate, or worse. And yet, he runs – for a Uganda where the state does more than sanction violence on its opponents, pilfer public money, & offer a future that is just the crumbs of its past,” he said.
“Like many other Ugandans, I’ve grown up listening to Bobi’s songs Kiwaanyi, Tugambire ku Jennifer. Ndi Muna Uganda. In these last years, I’ve watched as he gave up a life of success and stability to challenge a president who’s become the very villain he once sought to replace,” Mamdani added.
Despite lacking support from former U.S. President Donald Trump, Mamdani defied political expectations to secure the win, a result analysts say marks a seismic shift in New York’s political landscape.
