Ugandan socialite and businesswoman Zari Hassan caused a stir at her 46th birthday celebration after ordering security to remove some guests who arrived wearing jeans and T-shirts.
Zari held the invitation-only birthday dinner at the Kampala Marriott Hotel in Nsambya on Friday, September 25, 2026, with a black-and-white theme and a formal dress code.
The celebration brought together friends, entertainers and close associates, but some guests found themselves outside the party after failing to follow the dress requirements.
Videos from the event showed Zari noticing guests dressed casually and asking security to intervene.
“Jeans and T-shirts? Sorry, you are not my type. Security, please do your job. Thank you very much,” Zari said.
The dress code had been established before the event, with Zari making it clear that the celebration would be exclusive and strictly by invitation.
The party followed a black-and-white theme, with guests expected to observe a formal dress code. Zari had warned that people without invitations would not be admitted.
The birthday girl followed her own theme, appearing in a white outfit featuring black detailing around the waist. Her cake also matched the colour scheme.
Her husband, Shakib Cham, attended in an all-black suit accessorised with gold pieces, maintaining the formal appearance expected for the evening.
Zari’s enforcement of the dress code quickly became one of the biggest talking points from the celebration, particularly after videos of the incident circulated online.
Away from the dress-code incident, the celebration featured performances and speeches from several Ugandan entertainers.
Spice Diana, Karole Kasita and Elijah Kitaka performed during the evening, while DJ Trizzy handled the music. Socialite Bad Black also addressed guests during the celebration.
Spice Diana praised Zari’s longevity, work ethic and dedication to her family while celebrating the milestone.
“We are here to celebrate Zari. Her age milestone is important because these days we have so many people dying at a young age,” Spice Diana said.
She added that Zari’s approach to her personal life and career had made her someone many people looked up to.
“We look up to Zari mostly because of the way she cares for herself, her family and her hard work,” she said.
Bad Black also praised Zari during the event, highlighting her work ethic and fashion sense.
“You inspire us because you are hardworking. No one beats you when it comes to class in this country,” Bad Black said.
Mami Deb similarly described Zari as a woman who combines success with humility and encouraged her to continue supporting other women.
Shakib Cham also played a central role in the birthday celebrations.
Videos from the event showed Shakib and other guests showering Zari with dollar notes. Another clip showed Zari feeding her husband birthday cake during the celebrations.
Earlier in the week, Shakib had publicly celebrated Zari on her actual birthday, September 23.
“Help me wish my beautiful wife a very happy birthday! May this new year bring you endless happiness, love, blessings, and everything your heart desires,” Shakib wrote.
