Uganda has announced its withdrawal from the Invictus Games, the international sporting competition for wounded military veterans overseen by the Duke of Sussex. The decision came through General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the country’s chief of defence, who posted the announcement on social media. Uganda’s participation had been confirmed in July, making it the 26th nation to join the competition scheduled for next year in Birmingham.
General Kainerugaba stated that the withdrawal was intended to avoid appearing opposed to King Charles III, emphasizing Uganda’s deep reverence for the British monarch. A Ugandan government spokesman confirmed that the general has authority over decisions regarding the Uganda People’s Defence Force’s participation in international events. The general further stated that Uganda would not participate in activities lacking the King’s approval.
The timing of Uganda’s withdrawal followed the circulation of a letter sent on behalf of the King clarifying that Prince Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the royal family, having recently returned to the United Kingdom. A source close to the Sussexes attributed Uganda’s departure directly to this letter and its media distribution. Reports indicated the general had expressed concerns about what he characterized as the “Harry-Meghan nonsense.”
Royal sources countered that King Charles III actively encourages initiatives supporting wounded service personnel, suggesting the monarch’s position does not oppose the Invictus Games. Officials from the games organization stated they had not received formal notification of Uganda’s withdrawal and were seeking clarification from Ugandan contacts. The withdrawal affects competitors from Uganda who would have participated in the upcoming competition.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI