Uganda to criminalize 'wilful' HIV transmission

Lawmakers in Uganda are set to pass a measure criminalizing the intentional transmission of the virus that causes AIDS.

Lawmaker Betty Amongi, who sits of the health committee of Uganda's parliament, said Friday that the measure is necessary in this East African country that is seeing a rise in the number of new infections after a period of relative stability.

The measure sets a 10-year jail term for anyone convicted of "wilfully or intentionally transmitting HIV to another person."

Civic groups warn that such a law could be used to justify stigmatization of people infected with HIV.

In Uganda, 7.3 percent of the population has HIV, up from about 6 percent a decade ago.