Uganda has announced its withdrawal from the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded military veterans founded by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, just two months after confirming its participation.
The decision was announced by Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in a post on X.
Kainerugaba said Uganda was withdrawing from the games to avoid being perceived as acting against Britain’s King Charles III.
“In order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games,” he wrote.
“We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval.”
Ugandan government spokesman Alan Kasujja confirmed the decision to the BBC, saying Kainerugaba had the authority to determine whether the Uganda People’s Defence Force would participate in the event.
“General Kainerugaba decides whether or not the UPDF participates in the Invictus Games. What you saw is his stated position. If it changes, he will let the world know,” Kasujja said.
The announcement came after a letter issued on behalf of King Charles earlier in the week clarified that Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, were no longer working members of the British Royal Family.
A report by The Times linked the Ugandan military chief’s decision to concerns over what he described as the “Harry-Meghan nonsense.”
However, royal sources said the King supports initiatives that assist wounded military personnel.
The Invictus Games Foundation said it had not received any official notification from Uganda about its withdrawal and was seeking clarification from its contacts in the country.
Uganda’s participation in the next edition of the games, scheduled to take place in Birmingham next year, was announced in July while Prince Harry was in London promoting the event.
The games, founded by Harry in 2014, promote the rehabilitation and resilience of wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans through sport.
Uganda became the 26th country to join the international sporting event.
