KAMPALA, Uganda — At least three people have died, and four others have been injured after their vehicle collided with an elephant in a national park in northwest Uganda, authorities have confirmed.
The fatal incident occurred on Sunday evening within the boundaries of the Murchison Falls National Park. Police officials revealed that the vehicle was carrying seven passengers, all of whom were officials working for the state-run Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
The group was reportedly travelling from the northwestern city of Arua back to the capital, Kampala, when the vehicle struck the mammal.
A Rising Conflict Between Humans and Wildlife
The Uganda Police Force stated on the social media platform X that the four injured survivors were initially rushed to a local medical facility before being transferred to Kampala for specialized treatment.
Government officials have not yet provided an update on the condition or survival of the elephant involved in the crash.
Road traffic accidents are notoriously common in Uganda, but conservationists warn that collisions involving wildlife and humans are on a worrying upward trajectory. The trend is largely driven by rapid population growth and expanding human settlements that increasingly encroach on historically protected wildlife habitats.
Calls for Caution on Park Roads
In the wake of the tragedy, the Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA) issued an urgent public appeal to drivers, reminding them of the strict safety protocols governing transit routes that cut through conservation zones.
“Motorists travelling through protected areas are strongly advised to drive cautiously, as wild animals frequently cross the roads,” the wildlife management agency said in a statement.
Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected wetland and savannah reserve, is bisected by several major transit routes, making it a frequent flashpoint for high-speed traffic entering animal corridors.
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