Statement by Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs on Uganda joining the Invictus Community of Nations.
Statement by Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs on Uganda becoming the 26th member of the Invictus Community of Nations.
On behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Uganda, and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces, I extend our deepest gratitude to the Invictus Games Foundation for welcoming Uganda into this global community.
Special thanks to the Patron, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, for the warm welcome.
This milestone reflects our shared commitment to wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women who have sacrificed greatly in service to our nation.
Uganda has veterans who sustained injuries during our wars of liberation, as well as in peace support and counter-terrorism operations on the continent, including in Somalia.
The Foundation has already visited them at the Mubende Defence Forces Rehabilitation and Vocational Centre and supported them with sports equipment.
We are therefore honoured to join a network that recognizes the transformative power of sport in rehabilitation, recovery, resilience, and reintegration.
We are grateful to the leadership of the Invictus Games Foundation for their confidence in Uganda and for partnering with us to develop sustainable programmes for our veterans and serving personnel.
His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, reaffirmed this commitment during his meeting with the IGF leadership in Kampala on 10th October 2025.
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.
They are our living heroes.
Uganda’s admission as the first East African nation to formally engage with the Foundation is both an honour and a responsibility.
We look forward to learning from other member nations while contributing our own experience to the global Invictus movement.
We thank His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for his visionary leadership, and the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for championing our team’s entry.
Their support marks a new chapter for our service men and women.
We are proud to join now and we look forward to competing in future Games.
I also commend the UPDF leadership, government partners, and all stakeholders whose dedication made this possible.
Together, we will strengthen support systems so that no service member walks the path of recovery alone.
Finally, Uganda reaffirms its commitment to the values of courage, resilience, respect, and service that define the Invictus spirit.
We look forward to a fruitful partnership with the Invictus Games Foundation.
Be assured that Uganda will compete at the Birmingham Games in 2027.
For God and My Country. I thank you.
Kiryowa Kiwanuka
MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND VETERAN AFFAIRS