KAMPALA, Uganda – Three people have died after their minibus struck an elephant in north western Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park, police confirmed on Monday.

The fatal collision took place on Sunday evening when a passenger minibus travelling from Arua city to the capital Kampala hit an elephant crossing the road. The driver subsequently lost control of the vehicle.

“Three occupants died on the spot whilst four others including the driver sustained injuries,” police said on social media platform X.

The Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA) confirmed the incident but did not provide information on the condition of the elephant.

“Motorists travelling through protected areas are strongly advised to drive cautiously, as wild animals frequently cross the roads,” the authority warned.

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The tragedy highlights growing tensions between Uganda’s expanding human population and wildlife in protected areas. Human-wildlife confrontations have increased in recent years as communities encroach on conservation zones.

In 2024, the UWA estimated that approximately three animals were killed daily by speeding vehicles inside Murchison Falls National Park alone.

Car accidents remain a persistent problem across the east African nation.

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