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.

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The Parliament of Uganda has restricted physical attendance at this year’s State of the Nation Address and directed invited guests to follow the proceedings virtually as the government intensifies precautionary measures against Ebola despite reporting no new infections in the country.

In guidance by the Office of the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, on May 22, Parliament announced that attendance for the June 4 State of the Nation Address at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds will be limited following advice issued by the Ministry of Health on the current public health situation and standard operating procedures.

Adolf Mwesige stated that only Members of the 12th Parliament and selected parliamentary officials will physically attend the national event presided over by President Yoweri Museveni.

“Only Members of the 12th Parliament and select officials of Parliament will attend the function,” he stated.

Parliament further suspended physical participation by previously invited guests and instead directed that alternative arrangements be used to enable remote participation.

“All guests earlier invited are advised not to attend physically as Parliament has made arrangements for virtual attendance of the proceedings,” the notice added.

The guidance also indicated that the public will continue to access the address through live broadcast coverage.

“All Parliament social media platforms and the National Broadcaster will air the State of the Nation Address live for the general public,” the communication said.

The decision comes as Uganda continues heightened surveillance following concerns over the Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where health authorities and international partners are responding to an expanding outbreak.

Providing an update on the regional situation, Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the outbreak in DRC remains a serious concern and that available figures likely represent only part of the actual situation on the ground.

“The Ebola situation in DRC is deeply worrisome. So far, 82 cases have been confirmed, with seven confirmed deaths. But we know the epidemic in DRC is much larger,” Dr Tedros said.

According to the WHO chief, surveillance and laboratory testing continue to uncover more suspected infections and fatalities, with close to 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths under investigation.

He noted that intensified insecurity and violence in affected areas continue to undermine response efforts and make outbreak control more difficult.

The WHO chief revealed that additional WHO personnel had already been deployed to Ituri, the epicentre of the outbreak, to strengthen support for affected communities and coordinate with national authorities.

“I am in regular contact with government officials of the affected countries to coordinate response actions,” Dr Tedros said.

WHO has also revised its assessment of the outbreak, raising the national risk level in DRC to very high while maintaining the regional risk at high and the global risk at low.

Dr Tedros said Uganda’s public health measures have so far prevented further spread despite imported infections linked to cross border movement.

“The situation in Uganda is stable, with two confirmed cases in people who travelled from DRC, with one death reported. There have been no new cases or deaths reported,” he said.

He credited Uganda’s containment approach for preventing additional infections and singled out contact tracing and restrictions on mass gatherings among the most effective interventions.

“The measures taken in Uganda, including intense contact tracing and cancelling the Martyrs Day commemoration, appear to have been effective in preventing the further spread of the virus,” Dr Tedros said.

WHO also disclosed that Uganda and DRC continue to lead the response with support from international partners, while emergency resources have been mobilised to strengthen surveillance, treatment and community engagement.

The organisation has deployed 22 international staff to support field operations and released $3.9 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies, while additional humanitarian support has been mobilised through the United Nations system.

Dr Tedros further noted that the outbreak presents an added challenge because it is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or therapeutics.

“As you know, unlike many previous Ebola outbreaks caused by the Zaire virus, this outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics,” he said.

He added that WHO has already convened scientific and technical teams to accelerate work on vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, including prioritising monoclonal antibody research and evaluating antiviral treatments for high risk contacts.

Health authorities have meanwhile maintained that Uganda currently has no ongoing transmission beyond the earlier confirmed imported cases and continue to encourage vigilance, public cooperation, and adherence to health guidance.

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The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has assured Ugandans that the country’s petroleum supply remains stable and secure despite escalating global disruptions in oil markets, even as it cautioned that consumers should expect a slight increase in fuel prices driven by international economic pressures.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Irene Bateebe, said recent instability in global oil supply chains, particularly disruptions linked to the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz, has continued to exert pressure on international fuel prices, freight costs, and insurance premiums.

She explained that although Uganda is not directly affected by production disruptions, its heavy reliance on imported petroleum products means global market shocks inevitably reflect at the pump. However, she emphasized that supply levels in the country remain sufficient and uninterrupted.

“Uganda’s petroleum products supply remains stable and secure despite ongoing global disruptions affecting international oil markets,” Bateebe said, noting that the Government continues to monitor developments closely to safeguard the local market.

She further revealed that the Uganda National Oil Company, in partnership with international suppliers including Vitol, has expanded Uganda’s sourcing network beyond traditional supply routes to include West Africa, Europe, India, and the Americas, a strategy aimed at ensuring consistent fuel availability.

According to the Ministry, recent increases in pump prices have been driven by a combination of global supply constraints, rising freight and insurance costs, exchange rate fluctuations, and heightened regional demand, rather than domestic shortages.

She also noted that temporary fuel pressure in border areas had been experienced due to cross-border demand triggered by Uganda’s relatively competitive prices, but said the situation has since normalised following corrective supply adjustments.

“Government continues to monitor the sector to prevent smuggling, ensure fair pricing and protect consumers from exploitation,” she said, urging the public to avoid panic buying and to disregard misinformation circulating on social media platforms.

Bateebe added that fuel deliveries into the country remain steady through both the Kenya and Tanzania supply corridors, reinforcing supply security despite global volatility.

On long-term energy resilience, she highlighted ongoing infrastructure expansion, including the upgrade of the Jinja Storage Terminal from 30 million litres to 40 million litres, alongside the Mahathi Infra Terminal on Lake Victoria with a 70 million-litre capacity, which continues to enhance regional fuel logistics.

She further disclosed that the Government is advancing the Kampala Storage Terminal in Mpigi District, which will be integrated into the national refined products distribution system linked to the Hoima refinery pipeline network, with a projected storage capacity of 320 million litres.

On upstream and downstream petroleum development, she confirmed continued progress on the Uganda Refinery Project in Kabaale, Hoima District, a $4 billion investment designed to process 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The project also includes a 211-kilometre multi-products pipeline and supporting infrastructure expected to significantly reduce Uganda’s dependence on imported refined fuel while boosting industrial growth, petrochemical production, fertiliser manufacturing, LPG development, and job creation.

She added that the Government is preparing for the Third Petroleum Exploration Licensing Round scheduled for the 2026/2027 financial year, alongside new seismic surveys in Kasurubani aimed at identifying additional petroleum prospects.

On policy reforms, she said Government has finalised the National Petroleum Policy 2025, replacing the 2008 framework to align the sector with emerging priorities such as commercialisation, regional integration, sustainability and the global energy transition.

She also confirmed completion of the Petroleum Supply (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Operations) Regulations, 2026, which will be gazetted to strengthen safety standards, improve regulation and enhance quality assurance across the LPG value chain.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring energy security and maximising national benefits from Uganda’s petroleum resources through sustained investment in infrastructure, refining capacity, storage systems, and exploration activities.

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