JINJA, Uganda — Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected Mayor of New York City, traces a portion of his personal wealth back to his birthplace in Uganda, specifically four acres of vacant land he owns in Jinja, near the source of the River Nile.
According to his 2023 financial disclosures, the 34-year-old progressive Democrat acquired the land, which is valued between $150,000 and $250,000 (approximately Shs 570 million to Shs 950 million), over a decade ago.
Mamdani now makes history as the youngest person ever elected to lead America’s largest city.
Ugandan roots and financial disclosure
In Uganda, where he was born in 1991 in Kampala and lived in the upscale suburb of Muyenga until age five, the revelation of his Jinja property has sparked interest in the roots of one of the world’s most discussed young leaders.
Despite relocating with his family to South Africa and then the United States, Mamdani speaks fluent Luganda and consistently refers to Uganda as his “first home” when addressing audiences.
Public records from New York, however, show a slight inconsistency in the timeline of the acquisition. In his 2023 financial disclosure, Mamdani stated he bought the Jinja property in 2012, while his 2024 mayoral candidate filing listed the year of purchase as 2016. Both filings consistently describe the property as vacant and unimproved.
Mamdani confirmed the land in Jinja remains unused, stating it is “a part of home.”
Modest wealth vs. Political peers
Mamdani’s declaration comes alongside revelations of his relatively modest net worth—roughly $200,000 (Shs 760 million), according to Forbes. This figure stands in sharp contrast to the wealth of many of his American political peers, including his defeated mayoral rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose wealth is estimated at $10 million (Shs 38 billion).
The son of renowned filmmaker Mira Nair and celebrated academic Prof. Mahmood Mamdani, Zohran was educated in elite U.S. institutions but has built a political career championing working-class issues.
He first won a seat in the New York State Assembly in 2020, earning an annual salary of $142,000 (Shs 540 million), before mounting his successful mayoral bid in 2025. Mamdani is known for his frugal habits, including a car-free lifestyle and residency in a $2,250 (Shs 8.6 million) rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria, Queens.
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His policy platform centers on raising the minimum wage to $30 (Shs 114,000) per hour and expanding affordable housing.
In addition to his political life, Mamdani has a creative outlet, occasionally earning about $1,000 (Shs3.8 million) in rap royalties under the stage name Young Cardamom, best known for the track “Nani.”
With his election, Mamdani is slated to earn a mayoral salary of $260,000 (Shs990 million) and will move into Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence. For Ugandans, the story of the “Muyenga boy” who now governs New York resonates deeply, particularly as he retains tangible ties to his birthplace through the Jinja land.
