Three Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) staff have lost their lives, after a Toyota Hiace vehicle registration number UA20121AA, that were traveling in knocked a crossing elephant near along the Arua road, within Murchison Falls National Park in Nwoya District on Sunday night.
According to the Directorate of Traffic & Road Safety PRO, SP kananura Michael, the crash occurred at around 8pm.
“According to preliminary investigations the driver of the Toyota Hiace which was carrying seven officials from the URA travelling from Arua city back to Kampala after official duty knocked a crossing elephant and subsequently lost control of the vehicle” he said.
Kananura noted that three of the occupants died on the spot while four others including the driver sustained injuries.
“Police responded promptly and rushed the injured victims to Kiryandongo Hospital for medical attention before they were later transferred to Kampala for further management” he said.
Kananura noted that the bodies of the deceased were conveyed to Anaka Hospital Mortuary pending post-mortem examinations.
He further urged motorists to exercise extreme caution while driving through national parks and wildlife-protected areas especially during night hours and to strictly observe speed limits to avoid such incidents.
According to eyewitness reports, the elephant became aggressive after it was knocked and charged at the vehicle, overturning it and trapping the occupants inside.
Reports indicate that former WBS journalist Robert Wamala Rumanyika, is among those killed in the accident.
