UGANDA: Govt gets strict on wilful infection

The Ugandan parliament could soon deliberate on proposed legislation calling for the death penalty for HIV-positive people who wilfully infect minors.

Doctor Elioda Tumwesigye, a member of parliament, confirmed that anyone who knowingly transmitted the HI virus to someone younger than 18 years during sexual intercourse would be sentenced to death if the bill became law.

He told the local Monitor newspaper on Monday, "The proposed bill is seeking to amend the 'Penal Code Amendment Bill of 2004', which is weak, and we continue to see more and more children being defiled by HIV-positive people."

The Bill is expected to be introduced in parliament for a first reading later this week.

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