NWOYA, Uganda — Three people have died and four others sustained injuries after a fatal road crash involving a Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) vehicle and a crossing elephant along the Arua–Kampala highway inside Murchison Falls National Park.
The incident occurred on the night of May 24, 2026, at around 8:00 p.m. in Nwoya District, according to the Uganda Police Force.
Preliminary police findings indicate that a Toyota Hiace, registration number UA 20121AA, was carrying seven URA officials who were returning to Kampala from official duty in Arua City when it struck a crossing elephant.
The vehicle reportedly lost control immediately after the impact, leading to a severe crash within the wildlife-protected area.
Three occupants died on the spot, while four others, including the driver, sustained injuries of varying severity.
Police and emergency response teams rushed the injured victims to Kiryandongo Hospital for initial treatment before they were later referred to Kampala for advanced medical care.
The bodies of the deceased were transferred to Anaka Hospital Mortuary pending postmortem examinations.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims, pending notification of families.
The crash has once again highlighted the risks faced by motorists travelling through national parks, where wildlife movement is frequent, especially during night hours.
The Uganda Police Force has urged all drivers to exercise heightened caution when passing through protected areas, strictly observe speed limits, and remain vigilant for animal crossings.
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“Motorists are strongly urged to exercise extreme caution while driving through national parks and wildlife-protected areas, especially during night hours, and to strictly observe speed limits to avoid such incidents,” said Traffic Police spokesperson SP Michael Kananura.
The Arua–Kampala route through Murchison Falls National Park is one of Uganda’s key transport corridors but is also known for wildlife-related accidents involving elephants and other large animals crossing the road at night.
Authorities have repeatedly warned drivers to reduce speed within the park, where visibility is often limited and animal crossings are unpredictable.
Investigations into the exact circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
