Uganda has reversed its decision and will now participate in the Invictus Games next year following a phone call and intervention by King’s right-hand man.
King Charles’s principal private secretary Sir Clive Alderton called General Muhoozi Kainerugaba to say that King Charles had been ‘moved’ by his ‘sensitive consideration’ of what His Majesty’s opinion might be on the forthcoming event to be held in Birmingham next year.
The Uganda’s military chief has stated that Uganda would not take part in anything without the King’s approval in reaction to a Buckingham Palace letter clarifying that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are private citizens rather than working royals.
General Kainerugaba dismissively referred to internal defense discussions around the situation as ‘Harry-Meghan nonsense’.
It prompted a stinging response from the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ spokesman who claimed the letter sent out last week by the Lord Chamberlain caused the Ugandans to pull out and shockingly accused the palace of negatively affecting military personnel and veterans.
Now in another statement on social media, Colonel Chris Magezi, acting director of Defence Public Information in Uganda, said the matter had been resolved after Sir Clive made a discreet telephone call to smooth relationship.
He said: ‘The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has approved UPDF (Uganda People’s Defence Force) participation in the upcoming Invictus Games next year in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
‘The decision follows a telephone conversation between General Kainerugaba and the Principal Private Secretary to His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen of the United Kingdom, the Right Honourable Sir Clive Alderton KCVO.
‘Uganda joined the Games this year as the 26th member nation, but the CDF had withdrawn UPDF participation in the upcoming games to preserve Uganda’s close relationship with the British monarchy after Buckingham Palace had earlier issued a statement indicating that the Invictus Games were a private charity organisation.’
