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Uganda Withdraws from Invictus Games Out of Respect for King Charles, Military Chief Says
Confirmed
In Short: Uganda has pulled out of the Invictus Games, citing respect for King Charles III, just two months after announcing its participation.
Uganda has withdrawn from the Invictus Games, a sports event for wounded military veterans, out of respect for King Charles III, according to the country's military chief. The decision, announced on social media, comes after a letter from the royal household clarified that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are no longer working royals.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the chief of defence and son of the Ugandan president, made the announcement on X, stating that the move was to avoid being perceived as opposing the King. The timing of the announcement coincides with the release of a letter from the lord chamberlain, Richard Benyon, on behalf of Charles, which reiterated the Sussexes' non-working status.
The withdrawal is a significant blow to Prince Harry, who had been promoting the Invictus Games in London and had announced Uganda's participation just two months prior. The decision may be an unintended consequence of the official letter, which was sent to UK senior government and military officials.
The Invictus Games, which celebrate the resilience and rehabilitation of wounded service personnel, had welcomed Uganda as the 26th country to participate. The event, set to take place next year in Birmingham, was to be a platform for Ugandan veterans to showcase their recovery and strength. However, the military chief's announcement on X cited tensions over the "Harry-Meghan nonsense," referring to the ongoing issues surrounding the Sussexes' royal status.
The withdrawal has raised questions about the impact of the royal household's clarification on international participation in the Invictus Games. While King Charles has encouraged all projects supporting wounded service personnel, the decision to withdraw from the event highlights the complexities of royal relationships and their influence on international engagements.
What's confirmed
- Uganda has withdrawn from the Invictus Games, a sports event for wounded military veterans, out of respect for King Charles III, according to the country's military chief. The decision, announced on social media, comes after a letter from the royal household clarified that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are no longer working royals.
- General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the chief of defence and son of the Ugandan president, made the announcement on X, stating that the move was to avoid being perceived as opposing the King. The timing of the announcement coincides with the release of a letter from the lord chamberlain, Richard Benyon, on behalf of Charles, which reiterated the Sussexes' non-working status.
- The withdrawal is a significant blow to Prince Harry, who had been promoting the Invictus Games in London and had announced Uganda's participation just two months prior. The decision may be an unintended consequence of the official letter, which was sent to UK senior government and military officials.
- The Invictus Games, which celebrate the resilience and rehabilitation of wounded service personnel, had welcomed Uganda as the 26th country to participate. The event, set to take place next year in Birmingham, was to be a platform for Ugandan veterans to showcase their recovery and strength. However, the military chief's announcement on X cited tensions over the "Harry-Meghan nonsense," referring to the ongoing issues surrounding the Sussexes' royal status.
- The withdrawal has raised questions about the impact of the royal household's clarification on international participation in the Invictus Games. While King Charles has encouraged all projects supporting wounded service personnel, the decision to withdraw from the event highlights the complexities of royal relationships and their influence on international engagements.
What's still developing
- The news, first reported by Uganda Pulse news website, will undoubtedly be a blow to Harry, who two months ago stood alongside Uganda’s defence minister, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, at an Invictus Games event in London to announce that the East African nation would be the 26th country to enter the multi-sport event for wounded service personnel.
- The Invictus Games and representatives for the Duke of Sussex have been approached for comment.
- King Charles has reaffirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain non-working members of the Royal Family and private citizens, even as the Sussexes return to Britain.
- The clarification came even as ABC News claimed that the King learned about the couple’s plans to relocate to the UK only days before they were made public, In a letter sent on the King’s behalf by the Lord Chamberlain, Charles reaffirmed that Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the Royal Family and remain private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.
- Democratic Senate nominee Charles Booker is running behind Republican Andy Barr in Kentucky 's open Senate race, according to the latest available polling, even as the seat's incumbent, retiring Senator Mitch McConnell, remains absent from Washington amid unresolved questions about his health.
- Kainerugaba was appointed army chief in 2024 and is widely seen as his 81-year-old father’s successor to the presidency.
- Women’s all-around champion Kaylia Nemour of Algeria and Benedetta Gava of Italy earned three golds each, and men’s all-around winner Marios Georgiou of Cyprus claimed two golds, in the artistic gymnastics competition at the Mediterranean Games that ended Wednesday in Taranto, Italy.
- The 19-year-old Nemour finished eighth all-around and second on uneven bars at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, fifth all-around and first on uneven bars at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and fourth all-around, first on uneven bars and second on balance beam at the 2025 Worlds in Jakarta.