Uganda has made a U-turn after withdrawing from Prince Harry’s Invictus Games.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of the Ugandan president and the country’s Chief of Defence Forces, recently announced the country would be withdrawing from the games X, reversing Uganda’s initial confirmed entry.
The move put fresh focus on Prince Harry’s Invictus Games role before the tournament reaches Birmingham next July.
However, in a turn of events, Uganda has now confirmed it will take part in the games.
Uganda’s Invictus Games decision explained
General Kainerugaba heads Uganda’s armed forces. Last week, he said the withdrawal would prevent Uganda being “construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III”.
He added: “We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval.”
The announcement did not cite a public position from the king on Uganda’s participation.
According to The Times, General Kainerugaba was later asked what had driven the decision.
He said: “I have factions in the ministry of defence that support that Harry-Meghan nonsense. I had to quash it straight away.”
He claimed he had stopped it immediately and described himself as firmly pro-monarchy. He added: “I support the monarch. Period.”
Those remarks were his characterisation, rather than an independently established description of the ministry.
Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the royal family has been strained for some years since they quit royal duties in 2020. Thanks to their tell-all interviews and Harry’s memoir Spare, which detailed allegations about the monarchy, Harry remains estranged from members of his family.
He has met up with his father, King Charles, on a few occasions. However, it’s unclear if a reconciliation is underway.
Uganda returns to Invictus Games
However, today (Monday, September 14), it was confirmed that Uganda will in fact take part in the games.
In a statement on X, a spokesperson for the defence secretary said that General Kainerugaba had “approved UPDF participation in the upcoming Invictus Games next year in Birmingham, United Kingdom”.
It added: “The decision follows a telephone conversation between General Kainerugaba and the Principal Private Secretary to His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen of the United Kingdom, the Right Honourable Sir Clive Alderton K.C.V.O.”
During the call, Sir Clive “revealed that King Charles III was moved by General Kainerugaba’s sensitive consideration of the king’s opinion on the upcoming Invictus Games organised by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex”.
The statement added: “Sir Alderton said King Charles III has no problem with Uganda’s participation in the Invictus Games, and encouraged the [Chief of the Defence Forces, CDF] to proceed with preparations for UPDF’s participation in the games.
“In the telephone conversation, General Kainerugaba appreciated the King’s message and clarity provided by Buckingham Palace on the subject, promising that the UPDF would resume preparations to participate in the upcoming games.”
King Charles steps in
Colonel Chris Magezi, acting director of Defence Public Information, explained: “The CDF had withdrawn UPDF participation in the upcoming games to preserve Uganda’s close relationship with the British Monarchy after Buckingham Palace had earlier issued a statement indicating that the Invictus Games were a private charity organisation.”
Meanwhile, Rob Owen OBE, CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation, said: “We welcome the news that Uganda has confirmed it will continue to be part of the Invictus community and participate in the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, now less than 300 days away. Uganda became our 26th nation earlier this year, joining a growing movement that provides year-round recovery opportunities for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans across the world.”
Prince Harry hopes King Charles will open the Games
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick military service personnel and veterans.
The next event will take place in Birmingham, UK, in July 2027.
Harry reportedly wants his father King Charles to open the Games. The king’s attendance, however, remains unconfirmed.
Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‘want to be described as public figures’ after King Charles letter
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