Kampala — A TOTAL of 10,000 people Living With Aids will be able to access free Anti retroviral (ARV) drugs by March, the ministry of health has said.

Appearing before the HIV/AIDS committee of Parliament yesterday, a delegation from the ministry led by general duties state minister Capt. Mike Mukula said Uganda was ahead of other African countries in dealing with the scourge.

According to the Uganda Aids Commission chairman, Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, while all of Sub-Saharan Africa can accord treatment to a total of 30,000 of its people, Uganda takes a whopping 10,000.

"The Ministry of Health has dared where eagles dare not fly. Our aim now is to see how we can increase the numbers," Apuuli said.

He said a task force had been formed to finalise the policy proposal on how poorer victims could benefit. He said US$3m had been put aside to equip dispensation centres.

"With regard to capacity, we are in the process of equipping centres. The money has already been put aside to purchase equipment and train the staff to be able to handle the ARVs," Apuuli said.