Minibus Collides with Elephant at Uganda National Park, Three Dead, Four Injured

Three fatalities and four injuries occurred on Sunday evening at Murchison Falls National Park when a Toyota Hiace minibus from Arua city to Kampala struck an elephant, causing it to lose control. The vehicle crashed onto the roadside, resulting in immediate deaths for three passengers and injuries to four others, including the driver.

The police stated that the bus was transporting seven Uganda Revenue Authority officials at the time of the incident. Authorities advised motorists to exercise extreme caution while navigating national parks and wildlife-protected areas, especially during nighttime and to adhere strictly to speed limits.

The Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA) confirmed the incident, urging drivers in protected areas to drive cautiously due to frequent animal crossings. In 2024, UWA estimated that three animals were killed daily by speeding vehicles within Murchison Falls National Park. Car accidents are prevalent in east Africa, as evidenced by a December collision between a train and an elephant herd in India, resulting in seven elephants dead and one calf injured.