Uganda’s military leaders have confirmed their country will take part in Prince Harry’s Invictus Games for wounded veterans, after saying last week they were going to pull out of the event.
The change of heart follows a phone call with the King’s principal private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, who told them the King had “no problem” with Uganda’s participation in the games.
This support from Buckingham Palace is likely to be seen as an olive branch, helping Prince Harry with his sports events for injured service men and women.
It had seemed that Uganda’s involvement would be a victim of the fall-out over a letter sent on behalf of the King clarifying that Prince Harry and Meghan remained non-working royals.
Uganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, said the withdrawal had been made so as “not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III”.
But it seems that a private conversation between Sir Clive Alderton and General Kainerugaba has resolved any worries about the King not being supportive of Uganda taking part in the games, which are being held in Birmingham next year.
According to a spokesman for Uganda’s military, Sir Clive had “encouraged the CDF [Chief of Defence Forces] to proceed with preparations” to take part in the games.
“In the telephone conversation, General Kainerugaba appreciated the King’s message and clarity provided by Buckingham Palace on the subject, promising that the UPDF [Ugandan People’s Defence Force] would resume preparations to participate in the upcoming games,” said the Ugandan military spokesman.
It is not clear whether the Palace initiated the change of plan by calling the Ugandans, or whether it was the Ugandans who first contacted the Palace for their views.
General Kainerugaba, son of Uganda’s president, had announced last Wednesday the withdrawal from the games in a social media post on X.
“We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval,” said the general’s announcement.
That approval now seems to have been provided, opening the way for Uganda to take part. The country had only been announced as a participant in July.
A spokesman for the Invictus Games welcomed the news that “Uganda has confirmed it will continue to be part of the Invictus community”.
“Uganda became our 26th nation earlier this year, joining a growing movement that provides year-round recovery opportunities for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans across the world,” the spokesman said.
This change of minds ends a row which had been linked with the letter sent by the Palace about the status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which had made clear that they were private citizens and could not carry out official royal engagements.
It had given an impression of tensions as Prince Harry and Meghan settled into life in the UK.
A royal source said there was now a “positive outcome” for all sides and thanked the Ugandans for their understanding.
Where there is any uncertainty about the role of the Sussexes, organisations are welcome to seek guidance from the Palace, said a royal source.