Kampala — Makerere University has launched a programme to support HIV positive students and lecturers.

The Positive Futures project will provide counselling and free medical care to its beneficiaries.

Speaking at the launch on Saturday, the deputy dean of students, Winfred Mbuga, said the project was funded by the Centre for the Study of AIDS, University of Pretoria in South Africa.

The leader of the volunteers from South Africa, Allen Loyce Asire, a Makerere student intern in Pretoria University, said the project would lobby and negotiate for convenient programmes for its beneficiaries. "If a student is sick and unable to sit for exams, they can come to us so that we network with the University Hospital and negotiate for them," Asire said.

Volunteer students will get counselling lessons.

"Many students and lecturers die of AIDS because they fear testing and disclosing their status. But we shall encourage them to know their status," she disclosed.

Mbuga attacked HIV-positive people who intentionally spread the disease.