3 killed, 4 injured after Uganda Revenue Authority minibus hits elephant in Murchison Falls park

The trip ended in catastrophe when a Toyota Hiace minibus plowed into an elephant crossing the road inside Murchison Falls National Park, killing three passengers and leaving four others injured, including the driver, Ugandan police said. The vehicle was traveling from Arua to Kampala on May 24, 2026, when it “knocked a crossing elephant and subsequently lost control,” police wrote, adding that “three occupants died on the spot while four others including the driver sustained injuries.” The minibus was carrying seven officials from the Uganda Revenue Authority, authorities said. ^[2]

BBC News also reported that at least three people were killed and four were injured in the collision, describing the victims as Uganda Revenue Authority officials and placing the crash inside the park on May 24. The officials were traveling in a URA minibus when it struck the animal, the report said, underscoring the risks motorists face on roads that cut through wildlife habitats. ^[1]

The Ugandan Wildlife Authority confirmed the incident and urged drivers to slow down and remain alert for animals that regularly move across park roads. “Motorists travelling through Protected Areas are strongly advised to drive cautiously, as wild animals frequently cross the roads,” the agency warned, a message echoed by police calls for “extreme caution” and strict observance of speed limits, especially during night hours. ^[2]

The crash is the latest in a series of deadly incidents involving vehicles and wildlife in Uganda’s protected areas dating to May 24, when the minibus struck the elephant and overturned. Authorities have repeatedly emphasized that even routine travel can turn dangerous on park roads where visibility is limited and large animals can emerge without warning. ^[1]

Officials did not immediately provide details on the condition of the four injured survivors or the fate of the elephant, but the warnings from wildlife managers and police underscored a common reality for travelers: inside national parks, the road belongs to the animals as much as to vehicles. ^[2]