KAMPALA, June 4 (Reuters) - Ugandan police arrested three gay rights demonstrators who stormed a major AIDS conference in Kampala on Wednesday in protest at the government's stance on homosexuality, which is banned in the east African nation.

Uganda's government said this week it would not focus any HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes on homosexuals because it is short of funds.

"Two young women and a man stormed the conference venue uninvited and we had to arrest them," senior police commander Byakagaba Abas told Reuters at the meeting in Kampala.

The HIV/AIDS conference in the capital was organised by the United Nations, United States, the World Bank and others.

Ugandan courts can punish homosexual acts with life in prison, and even "attempted" homosexuality can draw a jail term of seven years. Most homosexuals hide their preferences, but local activists estimate the gay community at 500,000. (Reporting by Frank Nyakairu; Editing by Daniel Wallis) (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/)