Uganda pulling out of Prince Harry's Invictus Games, says military chief

What the report says

Uganda has said it is withdrawing from the Invictus Games, the international sporting event for wounded military veterans founded by Prince Harry. The announcement was made by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s chief of defence and son of President Yoweri Museveni, in a post on X, according to BBC Africa’s report. The decision comes about two months after Uganda said it would take part in the games.

In the post, the general said the withdrawal was intended to avoid being seen as opposing King Charles III. Ugandan government spokesman Alan Kasujja later confirmed to the BBC that Kainerugaba decides whether the Uganda People’s Defence Force participates, and said the general would speak again if his position changes. The Invictus Games team said it had not received formal notice of a withdrawal and was still seeking clarification from contacts in Uganda.

The move follows recent royal reporting in the UK, including a letter released on behalf of the King stating that Prince Harry and Meghan are not working royals. BBC also noted that some commentary in the UK press linked the decision to the relationship between the royal family and the Duke of Sussex, though that interpretation was not presented as an official Ugandan explanation.

Uganda had been announced as the 26th country set to join next year’s games in Birmingham, after Prince Harry promoted the event in London in July. The development matters because the Invictus Games are a high-profile project supporting rehabilitation and resilience among injured service personnel.