The accident happened late last night on the Kampala-Gulu highway. A minibus struck a bull elephant crossing the road near the Murchison Falls National Park. Three passengers died instantly. Four more are in critical condition.
This is not a one-off. These collisions are becoming more frequent. Why? Because human settlements are creeping deeper into wildlife corridors. The elephants have nowhere else to go.
Local officials say the animal died in the impact. It is a tragic irony. The beast that killed them is also dead. But the blame game has already started. The Uganda Wildlife Authority will face questions. Were warning signs adequate? Was fencing sufficient?
The realpolitik here is uncomfortable. Conservation is popular with donors. But keeping villagers safe is a domestic priority. The two are often at odds in these rural regions. Tourists want to see elephants. Locals want to live without the fear of one crushing their car.
Expect the Ministry of Tourism to scramble. They will manage the narrative carefully. Those three deaths will be reported as a tragedy. But behind closed doors, the question will be how to stop it from happening again without shooting the elephants.
A bad night for Uganda. Worse for those families.
