By Weswa Ronnie
KARUMA
Three Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officials have perished in a fatal road crash involving a Toyota Hiace (UA 20122AA) at Murchison Falls Park after knocking a crossing elephant at Nwoya district along Gulu highway.
The crash occurred on May 24, 2026, at around 8:00 pm along the Arua road in Murchison Falls National Park, Nwoya District.
According to Michael Kananura, the traffic police spokesperson, preliminary investigations indicate the driver, carrying URA officials from Arua to Kampala after official duty, knocked a crossing elephant and lost control. Three occupants died on the spot while four others, including the driver, were injured.
Kananura adds that police rushed the injured to Kiryandongo Hospital before transferring them to Kampala for further treatment. The deceased were taken to Anaka Hospital Mortuary.
Motorists are urged to exercise caution driving through national parks, especially at night, and observe speed limits.
The highway passes through areas inhabited by elephants, buffaloes, and other wildlife, creating a persistent and well-documented risk of human-animal collisions.
Sunday’s tragedy is not an isolated incident. Several accidents involving elephants and other large animals have been reported on the same stretch of road in recent years, each time renewing public debate about the adequacy of safety infrastructure along the route.
Conservationists and road safety advocates have repeatedly called for enhanced warning systems, speed control mechanisms, and dedicated wildlife crossing infrastructure to reduce the frequency and severity of such collisions.
Officials from relevant authorities have consistently urged motorists to exercise caution when driving through wildlife zones, particularly at night.
Despite these advisories, the combination of high traffic volumes, inadequate lighting, and active wildlife movement corridors continues to make the Karuma stretch one of the country’s most hazardous road segments.
The latest incident is expected to intensify pressure on government agencies to implement more concrete and lasting interventions, balancing the safety of road users with the preservation of wildlife movement around Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s most important and internationally recognised conservation areas.
URA had not issued an official statement on the loss of its staff members by press time.
