Uganda should stop relying on the international community to foot the bill for combating HIV/Aids, the UNAIDS Country Coordinator says.

Mr Musa Bungudu's comments come three days after the global fund for activities to fight HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis announced it was cancelling the next round of funding to several countries, including Uganda.

The unexpected decision taken on Tuesday by the Global Fund Board of Directors, affects the next round of grants (named Round 11) that countries like Uganda would have been eligible to apply for from 2014 to 2016.

"These resources might not continue to come. Whatever money Uganda is expecting for 2011, forget it," said Mr Bungudu on Friday at Parliament. Over the last 10 years, donors contributed $980 million (Shs2.3 trillion) toward Uganda's anti-HIV/Aids activities to complement the government's contribution. However, the US and Europe, which are the major sources of donor funds to Uganda and have supported its fights against HIV/Aids, are currently experiencing difficult economic conditions.

These circumstances have been cited as reason for cutting support to Uganda.

Uganda has previously been in the spotlight for mismanaging funds received from donors to fight the spread of HIV/Aids. Three former health ministers are currently facing charges of mismanagement of Global Funds meant to treat malaria, tuberculosis and prevent the spread of HIV/Aids.

Mr Bungudu said with Quality Chemicals, a local pharmaceutical firm now manufacturing ARVs, Uganda should be able to put the estimated 300,000 people living with HIV/Aids in need of antiretroviral drugs on the regimen.

The coordinator of the Aids Control Programme in the Ministry of Health, Ms Zainab Akol, said last year the government managed to get 73,700 people living with HIV/Aids on ARVs.

"We think we can put 100, 000 people on ARV treatment," said Ms Akol. She, however, added that there are challenges, such as limited stocks. Mr Bungudu said the government should invest its own financial and other resources regardless of whether there will be Global Fund support or not.

"We need to reduce on the conferences, meetings, policies and guidelines, and get time to go to the field," added Mr Bungudu. The Uganda AIDS Commission said Uganda's rapid population growth - at 3.2 per cent per annum- is partly responsible for the increase in new infections and, there is a need for more resources to tackle the problem.