Masked guards, phone jammers: Inside Zohran Mamdani's lavish Uganda wedding bash

India Today

8 hours ago

Armed guards in masks, multiple security gates, and a phone-jamming system: these were just some of the intense security measures in place as New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani celebrated his recent marriage at his family's luxury estate in Uganda this week.The three-day celebration, held at the secluded Mamdani family compound in the upscale Buziga Hill neighbourhood outside Kampala, drew attention from local residents and sources who described the event as unusually fortified, even by VIP standards, the New York Post reported.advertisementMamdani, 33, and his wife, 27-year-old artist and animator Rama Duwaji, secretly tied the knot in Dubai a few weeks ago.
Flower decoration at Zohran Mamdani's wedding venue in Dubai. (Photo: Instagram/@lmf_dubai)
This week's celebration brought together guests at the sprawling property owned by Mamdani's parents—filmmaker Mira Nair and political theorist Mahmood Mamdani.Over 20 guards from a special forces unit surrounded the gates of the heavily protected home, which features lush gardens, panoramic views of Lake Victoria, and multiple security checkpoints, the report stated quoting sources. Vehicles including buses, Mercedes-Benz cars, and a Range Rover were seen entering the compound throughout the week.'Outside the Mamdani house were more than 20 special forces command unit guards, some in masks, and there was a phone-jamming system set up — and all for the strictly invite-only Mamdani event,' the report quoted a local source. 'One gate had around nine guards stationed at it.'The celebratory gathering, which followed Mamdani's February elopement with artist Rama Duwaji, transformed the compound into what sources described as a 'party pad' — complete with Christmas lights strung through tree canopies, fruit juice stations, dancing, and a DJ, the report stated.By Tuesday, convoys of luxury vehicles, including buses, several Mercedes, and a Range Rover 4, were seen entering the compound. Guests reportedly partied until after midnight, with Mamdani himself addressing the crowd over a microphone, according to a witness.Mamdani's celebration occurred during a period of mourning for former Ugandan Supreme Court Judge George Kanyeihamba, who had lived near the Mamdani residence and died on July 14. Some neighbors criticised the timing of the festivities, citing cultural norms around mourning known locally as 'Okukungubaga.''It was insensitive to have a wedding celebration in the same week as mourning,' said one local resident as quoted by the New York Post. 'He has not even been buried yet.'advertisementUgandan President Yoweri Museveni reportedly visited the area to pay his respects to the late judge, temporarily blocking streets with his motorcade.By Friday, signs of the party's conclusion appeared as military-style tents were dismantled and private security returned to gate duty. Flower piles were also seen near one of the entrances.Though largely hidden from public view, the gathering sparked curiosity — and resentment — in the surrounding area. Locals, aware of Mamdani's political rise in the US, expressed a mix of fascination and skepticism.'We had heard that Mamdani was going to be Mayor of New York, and he had made it over in America. We want to know now if we can get free visas to the US and travel like he did,' one said as quoted by the report.The Queens assemblyman, confirmed his visit to Uganda through an Instagram post while taking a jibe at the trolls who kept asking him to 'go back to Uganda where he came from'.Joking about potential headlines and confirming he would remain in Uganda until the end of the month, he said, "'Since you will undoubtedly read about this trip in The New York Post —Inshallah on the front page—here are a few of my humble suggestions for headlines,' Mamdani quipped while holding a slew of newspaper covers, one which read, 'M.I.A.:MAMDANI IN AFRICA.' Zohran Mamdani was born in Kampala and moved to New York at age 7. He became a US citizen in 2018. He now lives in a rent-stabilised apartment in Astoria with his wife, whom he met on the dating app Hinge.- EndsMust Watch