Uganda will now participate in Prince Harry's Invictus Games after its military leaders reversed a decision to withdraw. The change of heart follows a phone call with Sir Clive Alderton, the King's principal private secretary, who conveyed that King Charles III had no objections to Uganda's involvement.
This reassurance from Buckingham Palace is seen as an effort to support Prince Harry's initiative for wounded service members and resolves a situation that had appeared to be influenced by a recent letter clarifying that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain non-working royals. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's military chief and son of the country's president, had previously announced the withdrawal, stating it was to avoid being perceived as opposing King Charles III. He had made the announcement last Wednesday via a social media post on X.
According to a spokesman for Uganda's military, Sir Clive Alderton encouraged General Kainerugaba to proceed with preparations for the games. The spokesman stated that General Kainerugaba appreciated the King's message and the clarity provided by Buckingham Palace. Consequently, the Ugandan People's Defence Force (UPDF) will resume preparations to participate in the upcoming games, which are scheduled to be held in Birmingham.
It remains unclear whether the Palace initiated the call to Uganda or if Ugandan officials first contacted the Palace for clarification. Uganda's participation in the games was only announced in July. A royal source indicated that the resolution was positive for all parties involved and thanked Uganda for its understanding, suggesting that the Palace can address questions about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's status as private citizens, as outlined in the clarifying letter.