Uganda has officially joined the Invictus Games community, becoming the 26th participating nation and the first country in East Africa to be admitted into the global movement that uses sport to support the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured, and sick service personnel.
According to a statement issued on July 7, 2026, by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) Directorate of Public Information (DPI), Uganda’s admission was announced during the 14th Invictus Games Foundation Conversation held at Chatham House in London.
Held under the theme, “From Policy to Practice,” the event brought together experts, policymakers and members of the Invictus community as part of the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.
The Invictus Games Foundation’s Patron, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, welcomed Uganda’s admission, saying he was delighted to see another nation join the Invictus community.
“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,” Prince Harry said.
The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, thanked the Invictus Games Foundation and its Patron, Prince Harry, for welcoming Uganda into the community.
“This milestone reflects our shared commitment to wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women who have sacrificed greatly in service to our nation,” Kiwanuka said.
He noted that the partnership reinforces Uganda’s commitment to ensuring that those who have borne the burdens of military service are given every opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity, purpose and hope.
“They are our living heroes,” he added.
Kiwanuka credited President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his visionary leadership and the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for championing Uganda’s entry into the Invictus community during the Invictus Games Foundation leadership visit to Kampala on October 10, 2025.
“Uganda’s admission as the first East African nation to formally engage with the Foundation is both an honour and a responsibility,” the minister said.
“We look forward to learning from other member nations while contributing our own experience to the global Invictus movement.”
The minister also confirmed that Uganda will make its debut at the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.
Uganda’s admission follows a formal agreement signed between the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Invictus Games Foundation in October 2025 to strengthen rehabilitation services for wounded soldiers. As part of the partnership, the Foundation assessed Uganda’s sports recovery facilities and met wounded service personnel and their families.
The Foundation also visited veterans at the Mubende Defence Forces Rehabilitation and Vocational Centre, where it donated sports equipment to support their recovery and rehabilitation.
