On June 1, marking the start of Pride Month, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued an online message expressing support for the city’s queer and transgender residents, emphasizing their right to live safely, openly, and joyfully. However, critics have pointed to what they describe as a significant omission: Mamdani’s silence regarding the plight of LGBTQ+ individuals in Uganda, the East African country of his birth, where he also holds dual citizenship.

Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023 enforces some of the harshest penalties worldwide for same-sex conduct, including the death penalty for what is termed “aggravated homosexuality” and life imprisonment for other offenses. The law has generated international condemnation, with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni urging other African governments to adopt similar stances to eliminate homosexuality altogether. These developments have contributed to a growing wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across Africa, leading many Ugandan LGBTQ+ individuals to flee persecution and seek asylum in the United States and Europe.

For those who remain in Uganda, daily life involves navigating a climate of state-sanctioned discrimination and violence. According to a February report by the Uganda-based Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, titled “Legalising Impunity,” police frequently arrest LGBTQ+ individuals on charges related to homosexuality rather than documenting abuse against them. The report also notes that detainees are often denied bail and sent to prison. In 2023, the first person to be charged under the law for “aggravated homosexuality” initially faced the death penalty; his charges were later reduced to life imprisonment, and the case was dismissed earlier this year.

Mamdani’s connection to Uganda extends beyond birthright and citizenship. Public records indicate he owns four acres of land in Jinja, Uganda, valued between $150,000 and $250,000, where he held a wedding ceremony last summer. Despite these personal and financial ties, the mayor has not publicly addressed Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies since taking office.

This issue surfaced during Mamdani’s mayoral campaign when a photo emerged showing him with Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda’s deputy prime minister known for her support of discriminatory anti-gay legislation. Mamdani stated he was unaware of her political stance, though reports revealed his father had longstanding connections with Kadaga. While Mamdani has been outspoken on other human rights matters, including calls to boycott and divest from Israel over its government policies, he has yet to extend similar criticism or advocacy in relation to Uganda.

In the fall, the African Human Rights Coalition released an open letter urging Mamdani to condemn Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act and advocate for its repeal, backed by a petition that had gathered over 6,000 signatures. The coalition’s executive director, Melanie Nathan, highlighted Mamdani’s unique position due to his cultural, political, and moral links to Uganda.

Supporters of Mamdani, who voted for him expecting a progressive leadership style that champions marginalized communities globally, have questioned his reluctance to engage with this issue. As Pride Month continues, calls persist for the mayor to use his platform to confront Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and stand with those facing persecution.