Three staff members of the Uganda Revenue Authority have died in a tragic road accident after their vehicle collided with an elephant along the Kampala–Gulu highway near Karuma.
The fatal crash, confirmed by police and wildlife authorities on Sunday, occurred on a section of the highway bordering Murchison Falls National Park, an area known for frequent wildlife crossings.
One of the deceased was identified as Robert Wamala Lumanyika, while the identities of the other victims had not officially been released by press time as authorities worked to notify their families.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the URA vehicle was travelling north when it rammed into an elephant that had reportedly strayed onto the road.
The impact severely damaged the vehicle and killed all three occupants instantly.
Security personnel, traffic police officers, and officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority responded to the scene and have since launched investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding the accident.
Authorities have repeatedly warned motorists using highways near national parks to exercise caution, especially at night and in wildlife crossing zones where animals occasionally wander onto roads.
The Kampala–Gulu highway near Karuma serves as a major transport corridor linking central and northern Uganda and passes close to wildlife habitats surrounding Murchison Falls National Park.