Three people were killed and four others injured Sunday night in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda, after a minibus carrying tax officials violently struck an elephant crossing the road.

According to Ugandan police, the accident occurred around 8 p.m. as the vehicle was traveling from Arua to Kampala. The driver reportedly struck the animal before losing control of the minibus. Three passengers died instantly, while the survivors, including the driver, were treated at local medical facilities.

Authorities have not specified the elephant's condition after the impact. An investigation has been launched by the Uganda Wildlife Protection Agency to determine the exact circumstances of the tragedy.

In a message posted on the social network X, the police called on motorists to exercise increased vigilance when crossing national parks, particularly at night, and to strictly adhere to the speed limits imposed in protected areas.

Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda's largest natural areas, is frequently the scene of accidents involving wild animals. Ugandan authorities estimated in 2024 that approximately three animals were killed there every day due to speeding. In neighboring Kenya, the NGO Ewaso Lions recorded more than 400 wild animal deaths in a decade along a road linking Nairobi to the Ethiopian border.

This latest tragedy reignites the debate on the coexistence of road traffic and wildlife preservation in the large protected areas of East Africa.