Kampala — HIV/AIDS infection rates are rising again in Uganda, the World health organisation (WHO) has said, reports Anne Mugisa.

In a just-released report, WHO said infection rates, which had been brought down to 5.6% in men and 6.9% in women by 2000, had now gone up to 6.5% in men and 8.8% in women.

Uganda has been showcased as a success story of HIV/AIDS prevention through campaigns, education and widespread condom use. Some commentators are blaming the increase on what they say is excessive promotion of abstinence.

But WHO said there is evidence of erratic condom use and more men having unprotected sex with multiple partners.

The state minister for primary healthcare, Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, said there has been despondency and complacency.

He said the recent national survey discovered that the overall prevalence had risen from 6.2% to 6.4%.

He said the Government had as a result repackaged the campaign to penetrate even the smallest units like families.

"We must repackage the sensitisation of the messages in a format that can be understood by the people," Otaala said, adding, "We have started voluntary HIV/AIDS counselling right from the village level. In some districts, we have scaled up counselling up to the home as the entry point into the healthcare. We want to carry out home-based counselling, treatment and preventive care"