After Intervention by King Charles, Uganda Rejoins Prince Harry’s Invictus Games

Uganda is returning to the Invictus Games, reversing itself less than a week after the head of the defense forces said his country was bailing on the sporting event in order not to offend King Charles. Uganda’s defense secretary, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced last week that the nation would not participate in the competition for wounded soldiers founded in 2014 by Prince Harry — just two months after Uganda became the 26th nation to join the games at Birmingham in July 2027. “We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval,” the general wrote, noting that he didn’t want Uganda’s participation to “be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere.”Uganda’s acting spokesman for defense, Chris Magezi, said Monday that General Kainerugaba reversed course after a telephone conversation with King Charles’s private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton.“In the discussion, Sir Alderton revealed that King Charles III was moved by General Kainerugaba’s sensitive consideration of the King’s opinion on the upcoming Invictus Games organized by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex,” wrote Colonel Magezi. “Sir Alderton said King Charles III has no problem with Uganda’s participation in the Invictus Games, and encouraged the (chief of defense forces) to proceed with preparations for (the Uganda People’s Defense Forces’) participation in the games.”Sir Clive, whom Prince Harry referred to as “The Wasp” in his memoir, “Spare,” made the call after Uganda backed out of the games in the wake of a letter sent to the Sussexes by Buckingham’s Lord Chamberlain, Lord Benyon. The missive explained that Prince Harry’s role following his family’s return to London after his banishment to America remains as a private citizen and not a member of the royal household.According to the UK Sun, Ugandan leaders took that as a decision by the royal family to distance itself from the charitable event and withdraw as a courtesy to the British monarch. The king, however, made clear through his emissary that he fully supports the games for injured military personnel.“General Kainerugaba appreciated the King’s message and clarity provided by Buckingham Palace on the subject, promising that the UPDF would resume preparations to participate in the upcoming games,” the Ugandan spokesman said.

After Intervention by King Charles, Uganda Rejoins Prince Harry’s Invictus Games

After Intervention by King Charles, Uganda Rejoins Prince Harry’s Invictus Games

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