Uganda Withdraws From Harry's Invictus Games Over 'Harry-Meghan Nonsense' and Loyalty To King Charles

Uganda has pulled out of Prince Harry's Invictus Games just two months after joining, with its top military chief saying the country will not take part 'in anything without the King's approval' and referring to what he called the 'Harry-Meghan nonsense'.

Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, announced the decision on Wednesday, saying he did not want the country's involvement in the Games to be 'construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III'.

In a post on X, Kainerugaba said Uganda would not participate in anything without the King's approval. In remarks reported separately by The Times, he also criticised what he called the 'Harry-Meghan nonsense'.

The move comes just two months after Uganda formally joined the Invictus community. Prince Harry stood alongside Uganda's Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, in London on 7 July when the country was confirmed as the 26th nation to join the community and the second in Africa, in a step Ugandan and Invictus officials described as significant for the country's wounded, injured and sick service personnel.

Royal Letter Triggers Fresh Questions

The announcement followed a letter issued on behalf of King Charles by the Lord Chamberlain, Richard Benyon, sent to senior government, military and other officials. The letter reiterated that Prince Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the Royal Family, will continue not to use their HRH styles, and that their charitable work is undertaken privately.

The withdrawal came days after the letter was issued, linking Uganda's decision to the wider discussion over Harry and Meghan's status. There is no indication in the available reporting that King Charles personally opposed the Invictus Games or directed Uganda to withdraw; the letter dealt with Harry and Meghan's status as non-working royals, not with the Games themselves.

Asked by The Times about the decision, Kainerugaba reportedly gave the explanation cited above regarding avoiding any impression of opposing the King.

Uganda's government spokesperson, Alan Kasujja, told the BBC that Kainerugaba decides whether the Uganda People's Defence Force takes part in the Games.

From Milestone to Reversal

Kiwanuka had welcomed Uganda's admission to the Invictus community as a milestone for wounded, injured and sick service personnel, and had presented the country's entry as part of efforts to support rehabilitation through sport. The Invictus Games Foundation said Uganda's membership was intended to help develop opportunities for sport and recovery for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans.

The decision comes despite Uganda's earlier emphasis on using sport to support the recovery of former and serving personnel, and represents a reversal of that position within two months.

Kainerugaba, who was appointed Chief of Defence Forces in 2024, is the son of President Yoweri Museveni. He has previously attracted attention over posts on social media, including remarks on regional politics and other public figures, though the specifics of his current stated reasoning centre on deference to the King.

Future of Uganda's Role in Invictus

The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry, is one of his major continuing charitable initiatives. Uganda's exit is a setback for organisers just two months after the country's admission was presented as an expansion of the Games' reach into Africa.

It remains unclear whether individual Ugandan veterans could participate independently of the Uganda People's Defence Force's withdrawal, or how the Invictus Games Foundation will respond to Uganda's decision. The Foundation had previously confirmed Uganda's participation in the Birmingham 2027 Games.

For now, Uganda's military leadership has set out its position: the country will not take part in the Invictus Games without the King's approval, although nothing King Charles has said or done publicly indicates that approval was ever withdrawn.