Uganda reversed its decision to withdraw from Prince Harry’s Invictus Games following an intervention by King Charles. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s chief of defense forces, had initially withdrawn the country due to concerns over controversy surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's return to the UK. After a conversation between Sir Clive Alderton, principal private secretary to the King and Queen, and General Kainerugaba, Uganda decided to participate in the games. The reversal came after the King expressed no issues with Uganda’s involvement in the event.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Uganda reversed its decision to withdraw from the Invictus Games after King Charles III intervened. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's chief of defense forces, had previously announced the country would not participate in the games due to controversy surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the UK. Buckingham Palace clarified that the Duke and Duchess remain “private citizens,” addressing General Kainerugaba’s concerns. Following a phone call between Sir Clive Alderton, principal private secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla, and General Kainerugaba, Uganda confirmed its participation in the games scheduled this year. The reversal came after Nigeria, which was the first African nation to join the Invictus Games family, making Uganda the second.
Written for “Uganda Invictus Games Participation” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 9348 · logged 2026-09-14
Uganda has announced it will reverse its withdrawal from Prince Harry’s Invictus Games after King Charles intervened.
asserted
Charles → announce → Games
Its chief of defence forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, last week announced the country would not take part in the upcoming Invictus Games “in order not to be construed as being opposed to” the King “whom we deeply revere”.
asserted
we → announce → whom
He told The Times his concern was specifically over the “Harry-Meghan nonsense” amid controversy over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s return to the UK, and Buckingham Palace’s affirmations that they remain “private citizens”.
asserted
they → tell → UK
General Kainerugaba wrote on social media last week: “His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games.
asserted
Uganda → write → Games
We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty's approval.”
asserted
that → participate → approval
But the King and Queen’s principal private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, called Uganda’s chief of defence forces to say King Charles had been “moved” by the country’s “sensitive consideration” of the King’s opinion on the Invictus Games, but had “no problem” with the nation’s participation.
asserted
Charles → call → participation
Colonel Chris Magezi, acting director of defence public information, confirmed the phone call with Sir Clive had encouraged General Kainerugaba to proceed with preparations for the Uganda People’s Defence Force’s role in the games.
asserted
call → act → games
“In the telephone conversation, General Kainerugaba appreciated the King’s message and clarity provided by Buckingham Palace on the subject, promising that the UPDF would resume preparations to participate in the upcoming games,” he wrote on social media platform X.
Uganda was proudly unveiled as the latest member of the Invictus family in a London ceremony involving the prince just two months ago, becoming only the second African nation to join after Nigeria.
asserted
Uganda → appreciate → Nigeria
The foundation, which hailed the country’s inclusion as “another important step in the growth of the Invictus movement”, has since funded new sports and adaptive equipment to help kickstart sports recovery in Uganda.
asserted
which → hail → Uganda
Colonel Magezi claimed the general had withdrawn the country from participating in the games to preserve Uganda’s “close relationship with the British monarchy after Buckingham Palace had earlier issued a statement indicating that the Invictus Games were a private charity organisation”.
asserted
Games → claim → statement
Harry is set to stage his tournament for injured, sick or wounded former and still-serving service personnel in Birmingham next year, and reportedly hopes the King will attend its opening ceremony.
uncertain
King → set → ceremony
The couple controversially returned to the UK in August after six years in the United States, where they stepped down as working royals in 2020 amid the Megxit crisis.
asserted
they → return → crisis
Buckingham Palace released a letter on behalf of King Charles last month reiterating the King’s stance after Harry and Meghan announced their return, confirming there would be no alteration to their role and status as private individuals and non-working royals.
The Lord Chamberlain’s letter read: “It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
asserted
It → release → Sussex
“Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used.
asserted
styles → remain → abeyance
“The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity.
asserted
work → undertake → capacity
The Sussexes were reportedly surprised by the King’s formal reiteration they will be treated as “private citizens”, and did not have enough time to clarify any points before the guidance was issued to the media.
uncertain
guidance → treat → media
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said: “We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.”
asserted
We → say → advance
The disclosure of the private behind-the-scenes dealings is likely to fuel speculation of growing tension between the Sussexes and the Royal Household following their return to the UK.
asserted
disclosure → fuel → UK
The couple were given around an hour’s notice of the Lord Chamberlain’s letter and did not have time to clarify any of the points, with Harry and Meghan said to prefer the phrase “public figures”, according to reports.
uncertain
Harry → give → reports
