'Meddling' Geldof incurs wrath of Ugandan students

UGANDA: With his famously shambolic appearance and notoriously foul mouth, he may not have endeared himself to all who watched…

UGANDA: With his famously shambolic appearance and notoriously foul mouth, he may not have endeared himself to all who watched Live Aid almost 20 years ago, but today Bob Geldof has completed the transition to Saint Bob or Mr Africa.

The former punk singer has become one of the best-known campaigners for Third World debt relief and fair trade.

He was even picked by Tony Blair to join the Africa Commission, which this month published a blueprint to rebuild the ailing continent.

But try telling that to the students of Uganda.

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This week hundreds marched through the capital Kampala waving banners proclaiming "Geldof sober up and shut up" and "No to drug addicts and rock homos".

They accused him of meddling in Ugandan politics by urging their president not to seek an unconstitutional third term.

The angry demonstrators also picketed the British High Commission and handed in a letter of protest. It accused Geldof and Bill Rammell, a minister in the British Foreign Office, of making offensive remarks.

Launching the Africa Commission report, Geldof made a typically outspoken attack on Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, saying he had lost all respect for him.

"The president of Uganda, who implemented poverty measures and Aids measures that all worked with debt relief, is now trying to be president for life," he said.

"Get a grip, Museveni. Your time is up, go away."

Mr Museveni has held power since 1986 and many of his supporters want him to follow other African leaders and change the constitution so that he can stand for a third term in presidential elections due next year.

The demonstrators, who called themselves "concerned patriots", marched through the city, blowing whistles and dancing to music blaring from a truck.