Kampala — THE Australian government has funded the construction of an HIV/AIDS clinic at Ibulanku Community Health Centre in Iganga district.

Presiding over the commissioning of the clinic on Monday, the Australian ambassador to Uganda, Lisa Felipetto, said the construction cost $3.5m (sh7b).

"The funding is bound to increase by 40 % this year as the Australian government emphasises assistance to the HIV/AIDS sector, water and sanitation amongst others," she said.

Felipetto added that 270 Ugandan students had benefited from Australia's scholarship scheme, adding that 200 students would be funded this year. The Third Deputy Prime Minister, Kirunda Kivejinja, promised to lobby the Government to support the health centre.

"If we give assistance to privately-run hospitals like Namirembe and Kakira, we have to also think about the possibility of taking on Ibulanku," he said.

The district health officer, Dr. David Muwanguzi, said the centre had helped reduce the distance travelled by patients in search of treatment.

Present was Uganda's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Dr. Henry Lukabyo, and the Iganga resident district commissioner, Swaibu Lubega.