Critics blast Zohran Mamdani for clinging to Ugandan dual citizenship despite harsh anti-gay policies

Critics blasted mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani for clinging to his dual-citizenship with Uganda days after a photo resurfaced of him posing with an architect of the country’s draconian anti-LGBT policies.

The Democratic Party nominee was pictured cozying up with Uganda’s Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga but claimed it was an impromptu photo and he was unaware of her status pushing the harsh laws of the country that include life imprisonment for gay people.

The pic was snapped in July when Mamdani jetted off the campaign trail to celebrate his nuptials at a secluded family compound in the African country where he was born, The Post recently revealed.

Independent mayoral candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo slammed Mamdani at a Monday press conference on the issue.

“And if you have such moral indignation against human rights violations all around the globe, you are quick to criticize everyone –  criticize Hindus, criticize everybody,” Cuomo said. “But you are a citizen of Uganda, running for mayor. Why wouldn’t you say, “I am going to give up my citizenship?” Because I will not be a citizen of a country that would kill gay people.”

Longtime gay activist Chris Lynn, a co-founder of the Stonewall Democratic Club, said Mamdani should drop his dual citizenship in light of the country repressive policies.

“Under the Uganda Anti-Homosexual law, if you know someone is gay, you have to report it,” Lynn said. “There is a mandatory jail sentence. Why would anyone in their right mind remain a citizen. What kind of hypocrite are you?

“Why doesn’t he renounce his Uganda citizenship?”

The country’s constitutional court struck down the portion of the law that required citizens to report anyone suspected of homosexuality in 2024 but still has some of the world’s worst anti-gay laws still on the books.

Republican Councilman David Carr, who is gay, backed GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa in the debate.

“It’s clear that there’s only one candidate in this race that has a record supporting the LGBT community going back to the 1970s long before the leadership of our two political parties and this is Curtis Sliwa,” Carr said.

A spokesperson for Mamdani didn’t address questions about the democratic socialist’s dual citizenship but in turned blasted Cuomo.

“Andrew Cuomo is holding press conferences about Zohran’s citizenship because unlike Zohran, he has nothing real to offer New Yorkers – no vision, no plan, no solutions,” spokesperson Dora Pekec stated.  

Pekec continued to criticize Cuomo for trying to capitalize on the issue, given his widely speculated role in coining the slogan “Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo” when his father — former Gov. Mario Cuomo — ran for unsuccessfully for mayor against Ed Koch.

“Zohran Mamdani has the most comprehensive plan to protect LGBTQ New Yorkers and will make this a city where each and every queer New Yorker is celebrated and can afford to live a dignified life.”

Cuomo lost to Mamdani in a crowded ranked-choice June Democratic Party primary but re-emerged as a general election candidate campaigning as a moderate alternative to the front-runner in the deeply blue city.