Three killed, four injured in Murchison Falls park crash

Three people were killed and four others injured when a minivan struck an elephant in Uganda's Murchison Falls National Park on Sunday evening. The collision occurred on a paved road within the park in Nwoya District.

The vehicle, a Toyota Hiace minibus, was carrying seven members of the Uganda Revenue Authority who were returning to the capital, Kampala, from the northern city of Arua. Police said the driver lost control of the vehicle after hitting the animal. Three occupants died at the scene, while four others, including the driver, sustained injuries and were transported first to a local hospital and later to Kampala for treatment. The condition of the elephant is not known, though footage from the scene showed the injured animal struggling in nearby bushland.

In a statement issued Monday, police urged motorists to exercise extreme caution and observe speed limits while driving through national parks, particularly at night. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has also advised drivers to watch for animals crossing roads, noting that wild animals frequently do so in protected areas.

The incident highlights a broader issue of human-wildlife conflict in the region. Data indicates such...