Three Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) staff members have been killed after the vehicle they were travelling in collided with an elephant along the Kampala–Gulu highway near Karuma, police and wildlife authorities confirmed.
The fatal crash occurred on a section of road bordering Murchison Falls National Park, where wild animals are known to cross the highway, particularly during the night and early morning hours.
Preliminary reports indicate that the URA vehicle was travelling towards northern Uganda when it struck an elephant that had emerged onto the roadway. The impact left the vehicle extensively damaged and claimed the lives of three occupants.
Security personnel, traffic police officers and officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority responded to the scene and launched investigations into the cause of the accident.
The identities of the deceased had not been officially released by press time as authorities worked to inform their families.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the dangers motorists face along the Karuma corridor, one of Uganda’s busiest transport routes connecting Kampala to the northern region. The highway passes through areas inhabited by elephants, buffaloes and other wildlife, creating a persistent risk of collisions.
In recent years, several accidents involving elephants have been reported on the same stretch of road, leading to renewed calls for enhanced safety measures.
Conservationists have advocated for additional warning systems, speed-control mechanisms and wildlife crossing infrastructure to reduce accidents involving both humans and animals.
Officials have repeatedly urged motorists to exercise caution when driving through wildlife zones, especially at night when visibility is limited and animal movements are less predictable.
The latest incident is expected to intensify discussions on how best to protect road users while preserving wildlife movement corridors around Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s most important conservation areas.
Police said investigations were ongoing and a detailed report would be released after the scene examination is completed. The condition of the elephant involved in the crash was not immediately disclosed.
 staff members have been killed after the vehicle they were travelling in collided with an elephant along the Kampala–Gulu highway near Karuma, police and wildlife authorities confirmed.){kind=link}