Uganda is withdrawing from the Duke of Sussex’s Invictus Games, according to the country’s military chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The announcement was made on Wednesday in a post on X, citing respect for King Charles amid what Kainerugaba referred to as “Harry-Meghan nonsense”.
Kainerugaba, who is the son of the Ugandan president, wrote that Uganda would not participate in anything that did not have King Charles III’s approval, to avoid being seen as opposed to the monarch. He reportedly told the Times that he had to “quash” factions in the Ministry of Defence that supported the “Harry-Meghan nonsense”, stating, “I support the monarch. Period.”
The withdrawal follows an official letter issued on Monday by the lord chamberlain, Richard Benyon, at King Charles’s behest. This letter reiterated that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were no longer working members of the royal family and would not use their HRH styles, clarifying their position as akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.
Uganda had been announced as the 26th country to enter the multi-sport event for wounded service personnel two months ago, with the Duke of Sussex attending an event in London alongside Uganda’s defence minister, Kiryowa Kiwanuka.