Uganda will take part in next year’s Invictus Games in Birmingham after a direct intervention from King Charles III’s principal private secretary helped resolve a diplomatic misunderstanding that had threatened to derail the country’s participation.
Sir Clive Alderton, one of the King’s closest aides, spoke by telephone with Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, after the military chief abruptly announced that Uganda was withdrawing from the competition.
The reversal came after Alderton clarified that King Charles had no objection to Uganda participating in the Games, which were founded by Prince Harry for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans. (Nilepost News)
Prince Harry meets a delegation from Uganda during at an event at Chatham House in London on July 8 as the country was announced the newest Invictus Games community member
Prince Harry and Invictus boss Rob Owen (left) present a commemorative plaque in London in July to Kiryowa Kiwanuka (second left), Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs
Colonel Chris Magezi of Uganda said the matter had now been resolved following a telephone call
Uganda reverses withdrawal after call from Buckingham Palace
Colonel Chris Magezi, Uganda’s Acting Director of Defence Public Information, announced that General Kainerugaba had approved the return of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) to the 2027 Invictus Games.
According to Magezi, the decision followed a telephone conversation between Kainerugaba and Sir Clive Alderton, the Principal Private Secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla.
During the call, Alderton reportedly told the Ugandan military chief that the King had been “moved” by his consideration of the monarch’s position and made clear that Charles had no problem with Uganda taking part.
The King’s aide also encouraged Uganda to resume preparations for the Birmingham Games.
Kainerugaba subsequently welcomed the clarification from Buckingham Palace and agreed that the UPDF would restart its preparations. (SoftPower)
It remains unclear who initiated the contact between the Ugandan military and Buckingham Palace.
The palace is understood to regard the episode as an example of why organisations uncertain about how to deal with Harry and Meghan’s current status should seek guidance directly, rather than making assumptions.
Private secretary Sir Clive Alderton (left, with Charles) called General Muhoozi Kainerugaba to smooth things over
Prince Harry and Meghan attend an Invictus Games event in Vancouver, Canada in February 2025
The row began with “Harry-Meghan nonsense”
The diplomatic confusion began last week when General Kainerugaba announced on X that Uganda was withdrawing from the Invictus Games.
He said the decision was intended to ensure Uganda could not be seen as acting against King Charles, whom he said the country deeply revered.
Kainerugaba wrote that Uganda would not participate in anything without the monarch’s approval.
Asked by The Times why he had made the decision, the general was even more blunt, saying: “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 Guardian)
The announcement was particularly striking because Uganda had only joined the Invictus community two months earlier and had confirmed its intention to compete in Birmingham in 2027.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba had previously said Uganda was pulling out of the Invictus Games
The original tweet last week, when General Muhoozi Kainerugaba said that Uganda was pulling out
Sussex camp blamed the palace letter
The withdrawal came shortly after Buckingham Palace circulated guidance reaffirming that Prince Harry and Meghan are private citizens and no longer working members of the Royal Family.
The Lord Chamberlain, acting at the King’s request, wrote to senior figures in government and the military setting out the couple’s position.
The guidance reiterated that there had been no change to Harry and Meghan’s status as private individuals and non-working royals. Their HRH styles remain in abeyance and are not used, while their charitable activities are undertaken in a private capacity.
Queen Elizabeth II made the last visit by a UK monarch to Uganda in November 2007, pictured with Prince Philip meeting President Yoweri Kaguta and his wife Janet in Kampala
Harry and Meghan’s representatives were reportedly unhappy with the way the guidance was communicated, saying they were surprised that they had not been given more advance notice.
Their spokesman also claimed that the palace statement had directly or indirectly contributed to Uganda’s decision to withdraw and accused the royal household of negatively affecting military personnel and veterans.
The palace has strongly rejected the suggestion that it was responsible for the confusion. (ITVX)
King Charles makes clear he supports Invictus
The Duchess of Sussex has shared a video montage showing their family outings back in the UK
The footage on Instagram features Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet on various outdoor adventures
Despite the dispute surrounding Harry’s status, the King has made clear that he supports organisations and initiatives benefiting wounded and injured members of the armed forces.
That distinction appears to have been central to the conversation between Sir Clive and General Kainerugaba.
The Invictus Games is a private organisation founded by Harry in 2014. It provides an international sporting platform for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans.
Uganda officially became the 26th nation to join the Invictus community in July 2026 and was the first country from East Africa to join. Its participation in Birmingham 2027 had already been confirmed at the time. (Invictus Games Foundation)
The country’s Defence Minister, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, appeared alongside Harry in London when Uganda’s admission was announced.
At the event at Chatham House on July 7, Harry posed for photographs with the Ugandan delegation as the country became the latest addition to the international movement.
Uganda’s defence authorities had previously praised the partnership as an opportunity to support wounded and injured service personnel through sport and rehabilitation. (UPDF)
A delicate issue for the King
The episode highlights the complicated diplomatic position King Charles continues to occupy in relation to his younger son.
Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in January 2020 and subsequently established their life in the United States.
Their return to Britain has now brought renewed attention to the precise nature of their relationship with the Royal Family and the limits of their official status.
For Buckingham Palace, the Uganda episode appears to have reinforced the importance of dealing with such questions privately and diplomatically.
Sir Clive’s intervention also carries particular significance given Uganda’s longstanding relationship with Britain and its membership of the Commonwealth since gaining independence in 1962.
King Charles, as head of the Commonwealth, is due to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua in November.
Uganda’s ties with the British monarchy
The relationship between Uganda and the British monarchy stretches back decades.
The late Queen Elizabeth II made the last visit to Uganda by a British monarch in 2007, when she travelled to Kampala with Prince Philip for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has also spoken warmly of the relationship with Charles. Following the Queen’s death in September 2022, Museveni described Charles as a friend of Uganda in the field of conservation.
He later sent congratulations following Charles’ coronation in May 2023, referring to the “brotherly and cordial relations” between Britain and Uganda.
General Kainerugaba is the son of President Museveni and has been viewed as a potential successor to his father.
Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain
The Invictus dispute comes as Harry and Meghan settle back into life in Britain with their two children.
Meghan recently shared an Instagram video montage showing family moments and outdoor activities in the UK. The footage included Harry, Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet enjoying time together, with the children shown riding bicycles, playing outdoors and going fishing with their father.
The family returned to Britain after spending six years in the United States, following their decision to step away from working royal duties.
Harry and Meghan announced in January 2020 that they intended to become financially independent while dividing their time between the UK and North America.
However, the late Queen Elizabeth II subsequently made clear during the Sandringham Summit that the couple could not retain a position that was effectively “half in and half out” of the monarchy.
Their current status remains that of private citizens, with their former working-royal roles unchanged despite their return to Britain.
For now, however, the immediate Invictus dispute appears to have been resolved.
Uganda is back in the competition, and preparations for the 2027 Birmingham Games are set to continue after Buckingham Palace made clear that the country’s participation has the King’s support. (the-independent.com)