Uganda pulls out of Invictus Games over ‘Harry-Meghan nonsense’
Uganda pulls out of Invictus Games over ‘Harry-Meghan nonsense’
Victoria WardWed, September 9, 2026 at 12:50 PM UTC
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex watching volleyball at the Invictus Games 2022 in the Netherlands - WireImage/Karwai Tang
Uganda has pulled out of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, claiming they do not have the King’s approval.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the country’s military chief, said on Wednesday that he was withdrawing to quash support for “Harry-Meghan nonsense” within his defence ministry.
On Monday, Buckingham Palace circulated a letter on the direction of the King confirming that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were “private citizens” and that their work was not on behalf of the monarchy.
Gen Kainerugaba, son of Uganda’s president, wrote on X: “In order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games.
“We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval.”
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a controversial social media presence, is expected to take over from his strong-man leader father - Getty Images/Badru Katumba
He told The Times: “I have factions in the ministry of defence that support that Harry-Meghan nonsense. I had to quash it straight away. I support the monarch. Period.”
The Invictus Games Foundation was unaware of the development before Gen Kainerugaba’s post was published on social media, The Telegraph understands. The organisation is now in discussions with its partners in Uganda to clarify the position.
Gen Kainerugaba, who is widely expected to follow in the footsteps of his 81-year-old father, Yoweri Museveni, is sometimes known as the “tweeting general” for his fiery and provocative posts.
In 2022, Mr Museveni was forced to step in and apologise after his son posted a series of messages threatening to invade neighbouring Kenya.
Gen Kainerugaba was also condemned for posts that were subsequently deleted, in which he threatened to have Bobi Wine, a defeated opposition candidate, castrated.
Yoweri Museveni has ruled Uganda in increasingly dictatorial style since 1986 - AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda
The general has stepped down from the social media platform at least twice, but has returned each time.
Uganda only joined the Invictus Games in July, becoming the 26th nation to take part and the first country from East Africa.
Its involvement was announced at an event at Chatham House in London, as Prince Harry began the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games 2027.
He was joined at the reception by Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Uganda’s defence minister, who praised the Duke.
Mr Kiwanuka said: “This milestone reflects our shared commitment to wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women who have sacrificed greatly in service to our nation.”
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The minister said the decision to take part affirmed Uganda’s belief that “those who have borne the burdens of service deserve every opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity, purpose, and hope”. “They are our living heroes,” he added.
The Duke posed for a picture with Ugandan delegates, raising a laugh as he held up a cardboard plaque the size of a tea tray and pretended to throw it like a Frisbee across the room.
The about turn announced by Gen Kainerugaba will come as a blow to Prince Harry, who has recently moved back to Britain and plans to make the build-up to next year’s Games, which will take place in Birmingham, a central plank of his work.
No sign King disapproves
However, the King’s lack of involvement in the Invictus Games, which is very much the Duke’s project, should not be interpreted as a lack of approval.
When the event was launched in 2014, the King, then Prince Charles, joined his younger son at the opening ceremony, with the now Queen and Prince William.
Beyond that show of support, palace sources have previously insisted that senior members of the Royal family never involve themselves in each other’s work.
There will be fears that Uganda’s decision was prompted by the letter circulated by the Lord Chamberlain, head of the royal household, on the direction of the King on Monday.
The letter was sent to a small number of “key stakeholders” in Government and the military, specifying that the Duke and Duchess did not represent the sovereign, and were not working members of the Royal family.
It said the couple’s use of their HRH titles would remain in abeyance and that any charity work was “a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity”.
The letter added: “In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
It was the first sign of tension between the two camps since the Sussexes returned to Britain with their two children last month.
They said they had been surprised not to have been given more than an hour’s notice of the letter.
The letter was released before a meeting to decide whether or not the Sussexes are entitled to taxpayer-funded police protection.
The all-important Royal and VIP Executive Committee meeting is scheduled this week, marking the climax of a deeply personal battle that Prince Harry has fought for more than six years.
The Invictus Games and the Duke’s office have been approached for comment.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
