KAMPALA, Dec 11 (AFP) - Uganda's successful campaign against HIV/AIDS has suddenly come under threat following demands here by moralists that radio advertisements on how to use female condoms be withdrawn forthwith.

Female condoms were introduced more than two months ago to protect women from contracting HIV, with advertisements on popular FM radio stations emphasising "not only their safety during sex, but also the nice experiences that go with them."

The demands by the moralists are seen here as the first real threat against Uganda's national campaign that has largely been responsible for the successful promotion of preventive methods against the killer pandemic.

Since their introduction, campaigns to promote female condoms had been intensified, but recently moralists have warned that the advertisements "were immoral and encourages promiscuity."

"The adverts are derogatory, especially when they come on air when you are with your children," Redeemed Church leader Robert Katumba charged here Saturday, saying some were so explicit that children were now "even asking their parents for condoms."

Many other people offended by the adverts have called FM radio programme producers to complain, although the radio stations have yet to react to the complaints.

The development comes at a time when religious leaders here are divided on whether their institutions should promote the use of condoms, which has helped reduce infection rates from a high 28 percent in the early 1980s to the current eight percent -- one of the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to an official of the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), Ugandans currently use an average of 80 million condoms a year.

The Anglican Church in Uganda has come out strongly for the involvement of religious institutions in the promotion of condoms, but the Roman Catholic Church is bitterly opposed, while Muslim leaders urge religious institutions not to condemn promotion of condom use.

"It is the duty of religious leaders to sensitize their flock on AIDS and one cannot be involved in AIDS prevention without talking about condoms," Anglican cleric Sam Ruteikara said.

"Religious leaders have a duty to talk about condoms," Ruteikara stressed.

But the Catholic clergy disagree, warning that promotion of condom use by religious institutions was tantamount to condoning immorality and infidelity.

The Catholics argue that "what should be promoted is abstinence and faithfulness," but without offering details on how this could achieved.

On the other hand, Ismail Ndifuna, programme manager of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council Population Programme, said that although it may not be the duty of religious groups to advertise condoms, they should not condemn their use.

A UAC official maintains that UAC's main aim was to reduce infection rates in the country and want religious institutions to participate in the struggle.

Uganda, one of the African countries originally devastated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, has recently made great strides in bringing down infection rates, through promotion of condom use and AIDS awareness among the population.

Up to 500,000 people have so far died of AIDS in Uganda, with 1.8 million estimated to be HIV positive, while the scourge has also left some 1.7 million orphans.

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