Uganda rejoins Invictus Games after King’s reassurance

What happened

Uganda has reversed its withdrawal from the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham after Buckingham Palace reassured its military leadership that King Charles III supported the country taking part. The decision allows preparations for its involvement in Prince Harry’s international sporting event to restart.

Colonel Chris Magezi, a spokesman for the Uganda People’s Defence Force, announced the reversal on Monday. He said General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the country’s Chief of Defence Forces, had authorised participation following a telephone conversation with Sir Clive Alderton, principal private secretary to the King and Queen.

According to Magezi, Alderton conveyed that the King had no objection to Uganda competing and wanted preparations to continue. Kainerugaba accepted the explanation and undertook to restart the military’s work towards sending participants to the Games.

The general had announced the withdrawal on X the previous Wednesday. He presented that decision as an expression of loyalty to Charles, saying he did not want Uganda’s involvement in an event associated with Harry to be interpreted as opposition to the monarch.

The dispute interrupted a recently established relationship with Invictus. Uganda’s membership had been announced in July, making it the 26th nation in the community supporting wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans through sport and recovery activities.

The background

The disagreement developed around palace guidance on the position of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. A letter sent on the King’s behalf reminded senior government and military figures in the UK that the couple were not working members of the royal family.

The letter, issued by the Lord Chamberlain, described the Sussexes as private citizens who could not undertake official royal engagements. It also reiterated that they would not use their HRH styles. Those distinctions concern whether their activities represent the monarchy, rather than whether they can pursue charitable work.

Magezi’s explanation of the original withdrawal linked it to a palace statement describing Invictus as a private charitable organisation. Uganda’s military leadership had treated that distinction as a reason to step back in order to protect its relationship with the British monarchy.

Kainerugaba also described divisions within Uganda’s defence ministry over support for Harry and Meghan. In explaining his earlier decision, he said he wanted to stop that support and align himself firmly with the King. His account placed the withdrawal in the context of internal military disagreements as well as royal relations.

Invictus was founded by Harry in 2014 as an international multi-sport event for people affected by military service through injury or illness. Its purpose extends beyond the competition itself: the Invictus Games Foundation provides opportunities for recovery throughout the year across its participating nations.

Charles attended the event’s London launch in 2014 alongside Harry and Prince William. That earlier involvement provides a separate history of royal support for Invictus, preceding the current disagreement over how organisations should deal with the Sussexes in their non-working royal roles.

The military and Commonwealth links

Uganda’s entry into the Invictus community was announced at Chatham House in London on 8 July. Harry met a Ugandan delegation there, and the occasion included the presentation of a commemorative plaque marking the east African country’s membership.

Kainerugaba has his own connection to British military institutions: like Harry, he graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He became Uganda’s army chief in 2024 and also serves as senior presidential adviser for special operations, giving him both military command and an advisory role.

He is the eldest son of President Yoweri Museveni and is widely viewed as a potential successor to his father. The decision over Invictus therefore came from a figure whose influence extends beyond selecting which overseas activities the armed forces will support.

Uganda has belonged to the Commonwealth since gaining independence in 1962. Charles is head of the Commonwealth as well as head of the UK’s armed forces, placing the relationship within a wider network of diplomatic and military connections between the two countries.

What people are saying

Rob Owen, chief executive of the Invictus Games Foundation, welcomed Uganda’s decision to remain involved and compete in Birmingham. He highlighted its place as the community’s newest member and the broader recovery work available to service personnel and veterans internationally.

Owen said the Birmingham Games were fewer than 300 days away. His response focused on Uganda continuing within the Invictus community, whose work includes support outside the schedule of a single sporting competition, as well as its participation in the forthcoming event.

Magezi said Alderton had conveyed the King’s appreciation of Kainerugaba’s concern about the monarch’s position. The military spokesman described the general as grateful for the explanation, presenting the conversation as the step that resolved the objection behind the withdrawal.

Before the reversal, a spokesman for Harry and Meghan had criticised the palace letter. The spokesman argued that it had contributed, either directly or indirectly, to Uganda’s decision and said the consequences had fallen on military personnel and veterans.

The King’s position was that he supported organisations and initiatives benefiting the military. That broader expression of support was followed by the specific reassurance communicated to Kainerugaba about Uganda’s involvement, addressing the concern the general had raised publicly.

What happens next

The Uganda People’s Defence Force will resume preparations for Birmingham 2027 under Kainerugaba’s renewed authorisation. For Uganda, the immediate task is now participation in the sporting event rather than maintaining the withdrawal announced last week.

Buckingham Palace has invited organisations seeking clarification about dealings with the Sussexes to ask for guidance. That offers a route for resolving questions about their status while maintaining the distinction between private activities and engagements undertaken officially on behalf of the sovereign.

The King’s attendance at the Birmingham Games has not been confirmed by the palace. His reassurance to Uganda concerns the country’s participation; it is separate from any decision about whether he will personally attend the competition.

Charles is due to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua in November. That forthcoming gathering forms part of his wider role among Commonwealth countries, of which Uganda is a longstanding member, beyond the immediate arrangements for Invictus.

Why this matters

For Birmingham, the decision restores a participating nation to an international event the city will host in 2027. For wounded and sick Ugandan personnel and veterans, it reopens the path to taking part after a dispute over royal status had halted their military’s preparations.

For UK military and charitable organisations, the episode illustrates the practical distinction between supporting work associated with Harry and treating him as an official royal representative. Uganda can participate with the King’s encouragement while the palace’s guidance on the Sussexes’ non-working status remains in place.