Three URA staff killed after vehicle collides with elephant near Karuma

KIRYANDONGO, Uganda — May 25, 2026 — Three employees of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) were killed in a road crash on Monday after the vehicle they were travelling in collided with an elephant along the Kampala–Gulu highway near Karuma in Kiryandongo District.
The accident occurred in the early hours of May 25 near the boundary of Murchison Falls National Park, a conservation area where wildlife, particularly elephants, frequently cross roads linking northern and central Uganda.
Preliminary reports indicate that the URA vehicle struck an elephant that had wandered onto the highway, causing extensive damage to the vehicle and killing three occupants. Authorities had not immediately released the identities of the deceased as efforts to notify their next of kin continued.
Police officers and officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) responded to the scene and launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Investigators are expected to examine factors including visibility, speed, and wildlife movement in the area.
The tragedy has renewed concerns about road safety along the Karuma corridor, where sections of the highway pass through wildlife habitats connected to Murchison Falls National Park. Conservation authorities have repeatedly warned motorists to exercise caution, especially at night and during dawn hours when animals are most active.
The area has experienced several wildlife-related accidents in recent years. In August 2025, a passenger bus travelling from Gulu to Kampala collided with an elephant near Karuma, killing the driver and injuring several passengers. The incident reignited calls for additional safety measures, including wildlife fencing, warning signs, and designated animal crossing points.
Road safety advocates argue that increasing traffic volumes along the Kampala–Gulu highway, combined with continued wildlife movement across the road, has heightened the risk of fatal collisions. They have urged government agencies to accelerate plans aimed at reducing accidents in wildlife-prone sections of the national road network.
Police are expected to issue a comprehensive report once investigations into Monday’s crash are completed. The condition of the elephant involved in the collision was not immediately known.