Uganda Is Back in the Invictus Games After Hearing From the King
Uganda will compete at the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham after its army chief reversed his withdrawal order.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's military chief and eldest son of President Yoweri Museveni, reinstated participation on Monday, 14 September 2026, according to army spokesperson Chris Magezi The Guardian. The withdrawal had lasted less than a week.
The change came after a phone call with Clive Alderton, the top aide to the king and queen. According to the Ugandan account, King Charles III said he has no problem with Uganda taking part and encouraged the Chief of Defence Forces to proceed with preparations. Kainerugaba said Uganda would resume preparations after appreciating the king's message and clarity from Buckingham Palace.
He had announced the withdrawal last week on X, writing, "Uganda hereby withdraws from the invictus games." In that 8 September post, he also said the king never said he didn't support the games. He said taking part could look like opposition to King Charles III and that Uganda would not join anything without his approval. He told The Times he acted because of factions in the Ministry of Defence supporting Harry-Meghan and that he supports the monarch.
Two months earlier, Prince Harry stood with defence minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka in London to announce Uganda as the 26th country to enter. That put civilian and military leaders on different public lines before the palace stepped in.
Kainerugaba became army chief in 2024. Like Prince Harry, he trained at Sandhurst, Britain's school for army officers. Charles attended the 2014 launch of the Invictus Games. Think of it like the Olympics for wounded, injured and sick soldiers and veterans, a contest founded by the Duke of Sussex. Birmingham will host in 2027.
The broader context here is about authority, not just sport. A palace aide helped resolve a public army order. Joining a contest started by Prince Harry was treated as loyalty to the king, not as a veterans decision by the ministry that announced it. The quick fix helps preparations but leaves open who runs the team between the minister and the general.
In my view, Kampala and London will see this less as closure and more as a rulebook note. The palace has now said it does not object to Uganda taking part. Whether that ends the factional dispute or moves it back inside the army and ministry will shape the road to Birmingham.
