Karolinska Institutet and Makerere University celebrate 25 years of partnership and impact

Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Makerere University in Uganda marked 25 years of collaboration in global health, education, and research with a joint celebration and forum in Stockholm on 14–15 October 2025. The milestone also commemorated five years of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH) — their joint platform for promoting sustainable and equitable global partnerships.

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• Karolinska Institutet: Karolinska Institutet and Makerere University celebrate 25 years of partnership and impact
• Makerere University: Makerere, Karolinska Reflect on 25 Years, Encourage University Research Equality

During the visit, KI President Professor Annika Östman Wernerson and Makerere Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding extending the partnership to 2030, reaffirming their commitment to equity, trust, and shared ownership in global research.

The event featured the Global Conversation on Power Dynamics and Equity in Partnerships, where over 130 participants from 13 countries explored how institutions can build collaborations rooted in respect, reciprocity, and local ownership. Speakers emphasized that warmth, curiosity, and mutual respect are essential ingredients for sustainable cooperation.

Discussions highlighted lessons from 25 years of achievements — including over 500 peer-reviewed publications, 50 PhD graduates (35 with double degrees), and more than 400 student and staff exchanges. The partnership, supported by programs like Sida, Linneaus-Palme, and Erasmus ICM, has led to innovations in midwifery, stroke rehabilitation, and public health systems in Uganda.

Panelists such as Dr. Andreas Göthenberg (STINT), Professors Rhoda Wanyenze and Stefan Swartling Peterson, and Associate Professor Caroline Wamala-Larsson (Stockholm University) underscored that equitable research requires shared leadership, transparency, and South-to-South knowledge exchange. Makerere representatives also stressed the growing role of domestic research funding and community-driven initiatives in achieving long-term sustainability.

As both universities look to the future, they aim to deepen cooperation through new research, education, and policy dialogues, building on 25 years of trust and mutual learning. As Professor Nawangwe concluded:

“Students return home, communities benefit, and research informs global health policy. This is a model of how equity and trust drive sustainable partnerships.”