LONDON, United Kingdom — Uganda has officially joined the Invictus Games Foundation community, becoming the first East African nation and the 26th country worldwide to join the global movement that uses sport to support the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans.
The Republic of Uganda was formally welcomed into the Invictus community during a ceremony held at Chatham House in London under the patronage of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, as part of the 14th Invictus Games Foundation Conversation, themed “From Policy to Practice.” The event also marked the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027.
The ceremony brought together ministers of defence, military leaders and senior representatives from participating nations to reaffirm their commitment to supporting wounded service personnel through adaptive sport.
Opening the event, Prince Harry emphasised the values that unite the Invictus community. “What brings us together is far more important than what sets us apart,” he said, highlighting the shared principles of resilience, recovery and international solidarity that underpin the Invictus movement.
Uganda was represented by the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, and the Minister of State for Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang. They were accompanied by senior officers of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Ms Patricia Kabuleeta from the Uganda High Commission in London.
Speaking after Uganda’s admission, Kiwanuka described the milestone as a reflection of the country’s commitment to supporting men and women who have sacrificed in service to the nation.
“This partnership affirms our belief that those who have borne the burdens of service deserve every opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity, purpose, and hope,” he said.
The minister confirmed that Uganda will field a team at the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, where wounded, injured and sick service personnel from across the world will compete in adaptive sporting events designed to promote physical recovery, mental wellbeing and social reintegration.
He described wounded servicemen and women as “our living heroes,” saying Uganda’s membership in the Invictus community would provide them with new opportunities to heal through sport while learning from the experiences of other participating nations.
Kiwanuka also credited President Yoweri Museveni for providing the strategic leadership that enabled Uganda to join the Invictus movement and acknowledged the role of the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in advancing the partnership following the Foundation’s visit to Uganda in 2025.
Uganda’s admission follows the signing of a formal partnership agreement between the UPDF and the Invictus Games Foundation in October 2025, aimed at strengthening rehabilitation programmes for wounded service personnel through adaptive sports and recovery initiatives.
During that visit, Foundation officials toured Uganda’s rehabilitation facilities, including the Mubende Defence Forces Rehabilitation and Vocational Centre, observed adaptive sports programmes, met wounded soldiers and their families, and donated sports equipment to support rehabilitation efforts. The delegation also held discussions with government officials on expanding sport-based recovery programmes.
Founded by Prince Harry in 2014, the Invictus Games Foundation uses the power of sport to inspire recovery, rehabilitation and resilience among wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans. Beyond organising the Games, the Foundation supports participating countries in developing sustainable sport-for-recovery programmes within their armed forces and veteran communities.
Welcoming Uganda into the growing network, Prince Harry said the Foundation’s expansion is guided not by the number of participating nations but by its commitment to reaching more service personnel in need.
“Growth has never been about numbers. It’s about reaching those who need us most, building partnerships that last, and ensuring that no one feels they’re making this journey alone,” he said.
Uganda now joins a family of 26 nations committed to using sport as a pathway to recovery and resilience and is expected to make its historic debut at the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, which will mark the eighth edition of the international competition and the first time the Games return to the United Kingdom since their inaugural event in London in 2014.