Kampala — THE Uganda Aids Commission has reported an increase in the number of people who are contracting the HIV virus in the country.

The Director General of the Commission, Kihumuro Apuuli said the new infections have continued to increase despite measures put in place to contain the spread of the disease.

The new infections are high among married couples involved in extra marital affairs and fishing communities.

"Aids has naturally picked up and Uganda is seeing evidence of the spread of the disease among older adults. The centre of gravity of new infections have moved upwards to above 30 years and it is high among the married couples and fishing communities," he said.

The national figures of new infections have increased from 132,000 people in 2005 to over 135,000 people last year.

"This means that we are not on top of reducing the infections," Dr Kihumuro said. He said if Uganda continues to register new infections like it has done over the last three years, the epidemic will continue to outstrip the response.

He was briefing journalists about the World Aids Day.

Dr Kihumuro said although the national prevalence rate stands at 6.4 percent, the prevalence is as high as 38 percent in fishing communities and 48 percent among married couples and people who are cohabiting.

Dr Kihumuro said the fishing community is one of the vulnerable groups where HIV prevalence is high because they are very mobile, and tend to have casual sex with multiple sexual partners.