Uganda reverses withdrawal from Invictus Games after King Charles intervenes

Uganda has announced it will reverse its withdrawal from Prince Harry’s Invictus Games after King Charles intervened.

Its chief of defence forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, last week announced the country would not take part in the upcoming Invictus Games “in order not to be construed as being opposed to” the King “whom we deeply revere”.

He told The Times his concern was specifically over the “Harry-Meghan nonsense” amid controversy over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s return to the UK, and Buckingham Palace’s affirmations that they remain “private citizens”.

General Kainerugaba wrote on social media last week: “His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games. We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval.”

But the King and Queen’s principal private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, called Uganda’s chief of defence forces to say King Charles had been “moved” by the country’s “sensitive consideration” of the King’s opinion on the Invictus Games, but had “no problem” with the nation’s participation.

Colonel Chris Magezi, acting director of defence public information, confirmed the phone call with Sir Clive had encouraged General Kainerugaba to proceed with preparations for the Uganda People’s Defence Force’s role 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,” he wrote on social media platform X.

Uganda was proudly unveiled as the latest member of the Invictus family in a London ceremony involving the prince just two months ago, becoming only the second African nation to join after Nigeria.

The foundation, which hailed the country’s inclusion as “another important step in the growth of the Invictus movement”, has since funded new sports and adaptive equipment to help kickstart sports recovery in Uganda.

Colonel Magezi claimed the general had withdrawn the country from participating in the games to preserve Uganda’s “close relationship with the British monarchy after Buckingham Palace had earlier issued a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”.

Harry is set to stage his tournament for injured, sick or wounded former and still-serving service personnel in Birmingham next year, and reportedly hopes the King will attend its opening ceremony.

The couple controversially returned to the UK in August after six years in the United States, where they stepped down as working royals in 2020 amid the Megxit crisis.

Buckingham Palace released a letter on behalf of King Charles last month reiterating the King’s stance after Harry and Meghan announced their return, confirming there would be no alteration to their role and status as private individuals and non-working royals.

The Lord Chamberlain’s letter read: “It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

“Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used.

“The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity. In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”

The Sussexes were reportedly surprised by the King’s formal reiteration they will be treated as “private citizens”, and did not have enough time to clarify any points before the guidance was issued to the media.

A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said: “We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.”

The disclosure of the private behind-the-scenes dealings is likely to fuel speculation of growing tension between the Sussexes and the Royal Household following their return to the UK.

The couple were given around an hour’s notice of the Lord Chamberlain’s letter and did not have time to clarify any of the points, with Harry and Meghan said to prefer the phrase “public figures”, according to reports.