From City Clerk to Global Celebration

Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji staged a wedding that spanned continents and styles. First, they eloped quietly in New York. Weeks later, they threw a glittering luxury celebration in Uganda, complete with high-level security.

A Modern Fairy Tale Begins

The couple met on Hinge in 2021, got engaged in 2024, and eloped in February 2025. On May 12, Mamdani, freshly elected Mayor of New York City, shared photos from their private ceremony.

Photographer Kara McCurdy captured the couple walking through New York in the winter chill. Duwaji wore a lacy white mini dress with a bouquet, while Mamdani donned a white tunic-style shirt over dark pants, honoring his heritage.

In his Instagram caption, Mamdani defended his wife against online criticism. He wrote, “Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama. She isn’t just my wife; she’s an incredible artist who deserves recognition on her own terms.”

From Criticism to Celebration

By July, Mamdani took to X (formerly Twitter) with a pointed response to xenophobic comments telling him to “go back to Uganda.” Instead, he announced he would take his wedding to Uganda.

Their Ugandan celebration began on July 22 at Mamdani’s parents’ estate near Kampala. Guests arrived in buses and luxury cars, masked security guarded the gates, and a phone-jamming system ensured privacy. The estate, owned by filmmaker Mira Nair and professor Mahmood Mamdani, spans two acres with gardens and sweeping Lake Victoria views.

Luxury Amid Simplicity

Despite the lavish Uganda event, Mamdani and Duwaji live modestly in a rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria, Queens. During his mayoral race, opponents criticized his modest living, but Mamdani emphasized the apartment was affordable and found it years ago when he earned far less.

Asked about moving to Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence, Mamdani confirmed he plans to relocate. The 1799-built estate has served as the mayoral home since Fiorello La Guardia’s tenure in 1942.

The Artist by His Side

Rama Duwaji remained active during Mamdani’s political rise. She illustrated for New York Magazine, attended Fashion Week, and supported humanitarian causes. At a Sudan fundraiser, several of her works were auctioned.

“She’s our modern-day Princess Diana,” said friend and photographer Hasnain Bhatti. Though her exact role as New York’s First Lady remains undefined, her influence is already reshaping the perception of a political spouse.

Love Across Two Continents

From a downtown Manhattan elopement to a heavily guarded, multi-day celebration in Uganda, Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji’s wedding showcased their love, resilience, and connection to family and heritage.