A film about 25 years of sustainable health collaboration in East Africa
The Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH) has released a film that tells the story of Professor Stefan Swartling Peterson and over 25 years of collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Makerere University in Uganda. Through Stefan’s personal reflections and experiences living in Uganda, the film explores long-term partnerships, sustainable health systems, and the impact of cross-border collaboration on improving maternal and child health.
From a small village in Sweden to the heart of East Africa, Stefan Swartling Peterson’s journey is one of curiosity, innovation, and impact. Watch the film to learn from his story and the partnerships that have shaped a quarter-century of change.
Learning from Uganda
“Scientific discussions are more meaningful here,” Stefan says in the film as he walks through the Makerere University campus in Kampala. Working in Uganda has taught him to do more with limited resources, find simple solutions, and constantly ask: How can we improve health for everyone?
A partnership that works
The film highlights the 25-year collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Makerere University — now a model for sustainable and equitable global health partnerships:
- 64 PhD graduates, including 35 double degrees
- 500+ peer-reviewed publications
- 400+ student and lecturer exchanges
- Courses at KI on Sustainable Health and the 2030 Agenda at all levels: an elective course for undergraduate students, a course for master’s students in Global Health, and a hybrid doctoral course
- Joint leadership programmes
- Practical health improvements, from midwifery training to stroke rehabilitation
Life in Uganda
During a recent two-year stay in Kampala, Uganda, where he worked at Makerere University, Stefan experienced what he describes as Uganda’s “compressed history” of health challenges — from declining child mortality to rising non-communicable diseases and the increasing impact of climate change. This hands-on perspective, captured in the film, continues to inform new collaborations and solutions.
“Fundamentally people are the same,” Stefan reflects. “We all want the best for our families. Leaving some people and some regions behind is not an option.” His work shows how science, empathy, and persistence create real change.
"Leaving some people behind is not an option"
Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health
The film was produced by Kseniya Hartvigsson for the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH) — a platform dedicated to promoting sustainable health and equitable global partnerships. The film was created in connection with the celebration of 25 years of partnership between Karolinska Institutet and Makerere University, held on 14–15 October 2025, marking a quarter-century of collaboration in advancing global health, research, and education.
