Uganda has withdrawn from the Duke of Sussex’s Invictus Games, a decision announced by the country's military chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, citing respect for King Charles III and tensions surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The surprise announcement came via a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday.

Kainerugaba, who is also the son of Uganda's president, stated, "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." This move signals a potential alignment with the British monarchy amid reported divisions.

The timing of Kainerugaba's statement suggests it may be a reaction to an official letter sent on behalf of King Charles to senior UK government and military officials. This letter reportedly reiterated the status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as non-working royals and confirmed they would not use their HRH styles.

When questioned about the motivation behind the withdrawal, Kainerugaba reportedly 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." This indicates an internal effort to distance Uganda from any perceived association with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's activities.

The decision represents a significant setback for Prince Harry, the founder of the Invictus Games. Just two months prior, he stood alongside Uganda's Defence Minister, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, at an Invictus Games event in London. During that event, it was announced that Uganda would become the 26th nation to participate in the international multi-sport event for wounded service personnel.

At the time of the announcement of Uganda's participation, Minister Kiwanuka had praised President Yoweri Museveni for his "visionary leadership" and Gen Kainerugaba, an alumnus of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, for "championing our team’s entry." The earlier public endorsement of the Games and Prince Harry's involvement now stands in stark contrast to the current withdrawal.

This development raises questions about the future participation of other nations and the broader impact on the Invictus Games, which aims to use the power of sport to inspire recovery and celebrate the resilience of injured servicemen and women. The specific nature of the "factions" Kainerugaba mentioned within Uganda's Ministry of Defence remains unclear.

The Invictus Games Foundation has not yet issued a public statement regarding Uganda's withdrawal. Further details are expected as the situation unfolds, particularly concerning the diplomatic and symbolic implications of this decision.