Zari Hassan marked her 46th birthday with an invitation-only celebration in Kampala.
The Ugandan socialite enforced a formal dress code at her invitation-only 46th birthday celebration in Kampala, drawing mixed reactions online.
Ugandan businesswoman and socialite Zari Hassan asked security officers to remove guests wearing jeans and T-shirts from her 46th birthday party, enforcing a formal dress code that had been set for the private celebration.
The event took place at the Kampala Marriott Hotel in Nsambya, Kampala, with a black-and-white theme. Guests were expected to dress formally, and some were reportedly turned away after arriving in clothes that did not meet the host’s requirements.
Videos shared online showed Zari taking the microphone to address those who had disregarded the clothing instructions before directing her security team to intervene. The moment became a major talking point from the birthday gathering, prompting debate over how strictly hosts should enforce rules at private functions.
Formal dress code becomes a flashpoint
Zari, also known as Zari The Boss Lady, made clear during her address that jeans and T-shirts were not acceptable attire for the occasion. Her intervention put the dress requirements at the centre of attention at an event attended by celebrities, friends and close associates.
The celebration’s black-and-white theme was accompanied by an expectation of formal clothing. The reported removals concerned guests whose outfits fell short of that standard, rather than simply whether they had attended the private gathering.
Although the videos captured her instruction to security, the account of guests being turned away was reported separately. The incident nevertheless drew attention to both the host’s expectations and the consequences for guests who did not follow them.
Invitations were also a firm requirement
Before the party, Zari had warned people without invitations not to attend. She specifically cautioned uninvited TikTokers against arriving at the venue, saying she wanted to avoid anyone being embarrassed at the entrance.
That warning underlined the invitation-only nature of the celebration. Access to the event and adherence to its dress code were both points on which the socialite had set clear expectations for those hoping to join her birthday festivities.
Her decision to enforce the clothing rules attracted contrasting responses from social media users and entertainment fans across East Africa. Critics viewed the move as overly strict towards guests, while supporters argued that a host should be able to determine the arrangements for a private celebration.
Music and celebrations continue
Despite the dress-code dispute, the party went ahead, with performances by Ugandan musicians Spice Diana, Karole Kasita and Elijah Kitaka. The entertainment continued as invited guests celebrated with Zari.
Her birthday fell on September 23, although the main party was held later. The milestone also included celebrations involving her family and employees at Brooklyn City College.
While the gathering featured music and birthday festivities, Zari’s handling of casually dressed guests became a prominent part of the discussion afterwards. Reactions remained divided between those who objected to the strict enforcement and those who defended her right to set conditions for her own event.
