Aids kills more soldiers in Uganda than conflict, the army says

Military officials say the decision was taken on humanitarian grounds so that HIV/Aids sufferers did not have to undergo strenuous military training.

But the move has been strongly criticised by Aids campaigners, who say it shows ignorance.

Uganda has been held up as a model of how to fight HIV/Aids, with infection rates falling from 15% to 5%.

Military commanders say more Ugandan soldiers are dying of Aids or HIV-related illnesses than in combat - although the army is fighting rebels in the north of the country.

They say soldiers found to have the virus will not be sent on arduous training programmes.

'Ignorance'

The Ugandan army spokesman said it was a humanitarian move to avoid "shortening the lives" of HIV/Aids sufferers.

But Aids campaigners argue that HIV-positive people can take part in normal military operations provided they are taking the appropriate treatment.

A Ugandan poster encouraging abstinence

Aids activist Rubaramira Ruranga, an HIV-positive retired major who served for 24 years, said the move was motivated by ignorance.

"Sufferers can remain very healthy, like me," said Ruranga, who was told he had HIV 22 years ago.

But the army spokesman said their reaction was based on "incorrect reporting" of the decision in Ugandan newspapers. And he stressed that the army did not "segregate or in any way discriminate" against HIV-positive soldiers.

Aids is estimated to have killed nearly a million Ugandans but the country's authorities have been praised for their openness about the disease and their success in drastically reducing the rates of infection.