Ugandan socialite and businesswoman Zari Hassan has once again addressed the long-running debate over her age, insisting that she was born in 1980 and not 1978 as shown on a leaked passport.

Zari made the clarification during an interview with Sanyuka TV as she marked her 46th birthday on September 23, 2026. She said the birth year appearing on the leaked document does not represent her actual year of birth.

Zari explains the birth-year discrepancy

According to Zari, the difference between the year she says she was born and the one appearing on the leaked document is connected to documentation she used when dealing with migration and citizenship matters in South Africa.

She explained that although the leaked passport carried 1978, she maintains that her actual year of birth is 1980.

“I’m 46. I know people keep arguing about my age, saying I’m older than that. My leaked passport showed a different year, but everyone has their own way of obtaining their migration papers when they go outside Uganda. I had to change my birth year for that,” she said.

This is not the first time Zari has addressed the issue

The controversy surrounding Zari's age has been around for several years. In 2019, reports emerged after a passport bearing her details circulated online and showed September 23, 1978 as her date of birth.

Zari rejected the claim at the time and maintained that she was born on September 23, 1980. She explained that the different year on her South African documentation was connected to citizenship-related processes. 1

She repeated the same position in 2023 after another passport-related controversy, again saying that she was born on September 23, 1980. 2

Zari turns 46

Zari's latest clarification came as she celebrated her 46th birthday. Current reports also identify September 23, 1980 as the birth date she publicly claims. 3

She has continued to speak openly about ageing and has encouraged women to embrace their age rather than feel pressured by public expectations about how old they should look.

The leaked passport controversy

The leaked document has continued to fuel discussion about Zari's age on social media because it carries a different birth year from the one she has publicly given for years.

However, the document alone does not establish which birth year is factually correct. Zari's position is that 1980 is her actual year of birth and that the 1978 date was used for documentation purposes.

Her latest comments have therefore revived an old debate rather than introduced a completely new explanation.

Zari's public life

Zari Hassan, popularly known as the “Boss Lady,” is a Ugandan socialite, businesswoman and entertainer based in South Africa. She has remained a prominent figure in East African entertainment and celebrity circles for many years.

Her birthday celebrations this year have also attracted attention, with reports showing that she held a formal celebration in Kampala attended by celebrities, friends and other guests. 4

For now, Zari continues to stand by her claim that she was born in 1980.