Kampala — FORMER Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda told Ugandan journalists yesterday that HIV/AIDS is a war Africa had to win.

Kaunda is in Uganda to launch Cavendish University in Uganda, which was recently licensed by the National Council for Higher Education. Kaunda is the chancellor of the university.

"I am fighting HIV/Aids not because I lost a son to Aids but because it is a problem in Africa," the former President, known for his concept of 'Zambian Humanism', said at a press conference at Serena Hotel in Kampala.

Since leaving office, Kaunda, who ruled Zambia from 1964 to 1991, has become one of Africa's leading AIDS activists. He has featured in several AIDS prevention announcements promoting openness about the scourge, abstinence, mutual fidelity, condom use, voluntary testing and counselling, and compassion to people living with the disease.

In 1987, while still president, Kaunda announced that his son had died of AIDS. Calling the disease a threat to Africa and the whole world, he said: "This is a struggle that we must fight to conquer."

He declined to comment on Ugandan politics, saying it would tantamount to meddling in internal politics. "I can say President Museveni is a very good man. He has helped us to establish this university in Uganda. I wish he could help us again," he said.

Kaunda arrived in the country on Sunday night with officials from Cavendish International.

He was welcomed by the Minister of Education, Namirembe Bitamazire.

The university will be officially opened today at its main campus in Wandegeya at the former Makerere high School complex. The chairman of Cavendish International, Ketrine Musonda, said the university was ready to start after almost a year of preparations.

"We promise to meet the required standards set by the National Council for Higher Education. We have recruited qualified teaching personnel and we have the required facilities to offer quality higher education."

Bitamazire said the council had become tough on both Government and private higher institutions to guarantee quality education.

"The Government liberalised the education sector but we also guard our population against inferior education," she said, noting that there were about 125,000 students in higher institutions of learning.

The Cavendish Group has universities and colleges in Zambia, Egypt, India, Iran, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

In Uganda, the university has started with major courses, including business administration, information management, media and public relations, computer science, NGO management and social works.