Announcement
Uganda will withdraw from the Invictus Games organised by the Duke of Sussex, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the country’s military chief, said in a post on X on Wednesday. In his message he said the decision was taken “out of respect for King Charles” and referenced divisions created by what he called the “Harry-Meghan nonsense.”
Gen Muhoozi, who is also the son of the Ugandan president, framed the move as a response to tensions surrounding the royal couple. He made the announcement directly on social media and did not set out further logistical details in the post.
The Invictus Games are a sporting event founded by the Duke of Sussex that brings together wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans. Uganda’s decision to pull out represents a public distancing from the event amid debate over the conduct and profile of the duke and his wife, Meghan, which has become a point of division in some quarters.
The surprise nature of the announcement is likely to draw attention to how controversies involving public figures can have diplomatic and cultural reverberations. Gen Muhoozi’s brief public statement did not include an official timeline for the withdrawal or further statements from Ugandan military or government spokespeople.