Newly elected presidents in three Horyzon project countries

2026 is a pivotal election year for a total of four Horyzon project countries: Uganda, Haiti, Nepal, and Colombia. Horyzon reported on this in January 2026. Since then, presidential elections have already taken place in three of these countries. These developments demonstrate once again how strongly political processes influence the daily lives of local people—especially those of the young people who are at the heart of Horyzon’s projects. This is because issues of security, educational opportunities, political participation, and future prospects are closely linked to the respective political context. For Horyzon and its local partner organizations, this means continuing to respond flexibly to changes and adapting project work to the respective contexts.

Uganda: Re-election without major change

In Uganda, the presidential and parliamentary elections took place on January 15, 2026. As expected, long-time President Yoweri Museveni prevailed once again and thus remains in power after 40 years. According to official figures, he received around 71 percent of the vote and will begin his next term. However, the election was accompanied by various restrictions and tensions. Reports of a nationwide internet blackout, technical problems at polling stations, and the arrest of opposition supporters raised questions about the fairness of the electoral process. For many young people in Uganda, the political situation thus remains ambivalent: on the one hand, there is a clearly palpable desire for change; on the other hand, the election results show how entrenched existing power structures continue to be.

Nepal: A generational shift at the top

The election in Nepal took a very different course. There, a new parliament was elected on March 5, 2026—in a context marked by significant social upheaval. The trigger for the early election was nationwide protests in 2025, which were driven in particular by young people and whose brutal suppression led to over 70 deaths. The protesters were opposing the shutdown of social media, corruption, and a lack of prospects. The election ultimately brought about a significant political upheaval: the relatively new, reform-oriented “Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)” won by a surprisingly clear margin and now has a prime minister, Balendra Shah, who is also relatively young. This can be seen as a sign of a generational shift: young voters have visibly voiced their concerns, thereby sending a signal for greater transparency and a willingness to reform. More importantly, however, Nepal’s still-young democracy has weathered this test, and the established parties have been punished for their actions. At the same time, expectations for the new government are high, particularly regarding jobs, economic development, and a more effective fight against corruption.

Colombia: Runoff election to follow

In Colombia, too, the political situation has evolved over the course of the spring. A new parliament was elected back in March, with the left-wing coalition “Pacto Histórico” emerging as the strongest force, though it does not hold a majority. This situation reflects an increasingly polarized society in which political reforms, security issues, and economic challenges are the subject of intense debate. The subsequent presidential election on May 31, 2026, therefore represented a pivotal moment for the country’s future direction. In the first round of voting, the right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella took the lead with about 44% of the vote, closely followed by the left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda with about 41%. Since neither candidate secured an absolute majority, a runoff election will be held on June 21, 2026, to determine who will lead the country in the future. The electorate is already deeply divided, and the outcome of the election will be of great significance for Colombia’s future political direction. For many young people, the decisive factor remains whether the new political leadership can find ways to create opportunities and effectively address key challenges such as security, social inequality, and economic stability.

Sources: wikipedia.org, africanelections.org, bpb.de