Key information:
- The Uganda Wildlife Authority has placed caution signs indicating where animals cross and set speed restrictions, yet the message continues to be difficult to absorb.
Travel along the Karuma-Olwiyo-Pakwach road can be seamless during both day and night, yet motorists should remain vigilant when passing through Murchison Falls National Park.
A 107-kilometer route stretching from Karuma to Pakwach encourages drivers to exceed speed limits, although the area hosts large wildlife such as elephants that move throughout all weather conditions in search of food. In the extended dry period at Pakwach, creatures approach the roadway looking for new vegetation, leading to many collisions.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority has installed caution signs indicating where animals cross and set speed restrictions, yet the message continues to be difficult to grasp.
Mr. Bashir Hangi, UWA’s Assistant Commissioner for Communications, informed Daily Monitor that the regulation is straightforward: "Adhere to the rules while driving. Lower your speed in zones where animal crossings are common. Be alert for signage indicating potential wildlife movement."
He asked drivers to refrain from exceeding the speed limit during both daytime and nighttime in park areas. "Stay alert as wildlife may appear unexpectedly. Follow the posted speed restrictions," he mentioned.
Mr. Hangi cautioned against the belief that humans and wildlife can live together without issues. "We oppose the notion that people can coexist with animals in their neighborhoods. It isn’t realistic. Individuals should inform us so we can implement necessary measures. We have monitors who use devices to scare away the animals. They are untamed," he stated.
Driver Mr Joseph Ongom mentioned that having patience is essential when encountering animals. "If you spot an elephant or another creature crossing, avoid honking at it. Allow it enough time to pass since it too has the right of way. Certain animals may become aggressive if you honk or shine your headlights on them," he explained. He recommended using low-beam lights and keeping track of wildlife activity.
The threat is genuine. Driver Mr. Musa Ali remembered an evening in 2024 shortly after leaving Purongo village in Nwoya when a massive figure emerged ahead.
"I became frightened and reduced my speed. It turned out that elephants were moving across from the left to the right side of the highway. The female elephant extended her ears and positioned herself guardedly next to her young ones," he explained.
"I needed to halt and move back to a secure location. I turned off my high beams and remained silent. Then, I informed the passengers not to take pictures as it might illuminate their faces. After five minutes, they entered the bushes, and we departed without issue," he stated.
A traveler then said with a sigh: "Had we kept accelerating, we might have collided with them or provoked the elephants. In either case, we would have perished."
"On this path, being patient can save lives," said Mr. Ali to him. That single cautious choice ensured they returned home safely.
The danger goes beyond just the roads. As rain returns, elephants venture further into the park, yet during dry periods such as May, food shortages drive them towards farms. Ms. Joyce Acirocan, 49, from Pakwach mentioned that older members of her community instructed her never to face an elephant directly. "They also warned us against running aimlessly or trying to take cover behind objects," she explained.
A Rural Initiative for Community Empowerment West Nile program educated the Purongo community about protective strategies. At around 1 am one night, elephants invaded the fields. The locals quickly came outside carrying flashlights, drums, and whistles, aware that loud sounds could deter them. However, when an elephant approached aggressively, they recalled what the wildlife officers had advised: avoid running directly through clear areas. "Employ barriers," conservation experts had explained. "Take cover near big trees or termite mounds. Try to remain upwind whenever feasible."
Travel agencies emphasize that the road requires caution. Boniface Kadabara, Head of West Nile Birding and Safari, stated: "The Karuma-Pakwach route serves as an essential link where regional trade, everyday travel, and delicate environments intersect."
"In terms of the tourism industry, traversing this path necessitates a significant change in perspective. We all need to cease viewing park roads as fast-moving thoroughfares and instead adopt the utmost respect, care, and patience that a premier wildlife reserve calls for," he stated.
Kadabara emphasized safe driving practices and stated that vehicles should act as "mobile representatives of wildlife protection." He advocated against nighttime travel within protected zones, explaining that "big animals such as elephants have dark skin that blends perfectly with the darkness, rendering them nearly undetectable to fast-moving drivers."
"We call upon every driver—whether they operate commercial trucks, drive for work, or commute privately—to keep in mind that we are only guests in the animals’ territory, and driving with modesty is the greatest way to show our reverence," he stated.
Drivers must inform UWA about injured wildlife or hazardous conditions. Currently, the message shared by drivers, rangers, and local people remains consistent: drive carefully, pay attention to signage, and allow elephants to move freely.
THE DO’S
• Inform UWA rangers
• Adhere to a maximum speed of 40 kilometers per hour • Maintain a speed not exceeding 40 km/h • Keep your speed at or below 40 kilometers per hour • Drive slowly with a top speed of 40 km/h • Ensure you do not exceed 40 km/h while driving
• Opt for secure locations to conceal items.
• Adhere to the directional signs on the road • Observe the highway indication markers • Pay attention to the route guidance symbols • Stick to the marked trails and directions • Navigate according to the traffic signposts
• Generate synchronized sounds from afar.
• For agriculturalists, excavate more extensive elephant ditches
• Employ chili cords, guard towers, and hive-shaped barriers.
• Above all, show consideration for wild animals
• Halt from afar when you spot an elephant
• Exercise patience, let it pass through • Remain calm, let it move across • Stay composed, permit it to go by • Keep your composure, let it proceed • Be tolerant, let it flow past
THE DON’T’S
• Never hoot
• Do not rush/speed
• Avoid pursuing elephants using a car.
• Avoid exceeding the speed limit when driving.
• Refrain from feeding the elephants with food • Avoid giving sustenance to the elephants • Don’t offer food to the elephants • It’s prohibited to provide food for the elephants • Please do not feed the elephants anything
• Avoid shining your lights at them or using cameras during nighttime.
• Avoid facing an elephant directly • Do not challenge an elephant head-on • Refrain from standing up to an elephant • Don’t engage with an elephant directly • Stay away from confronting an elephant
• Elephants and wildlife are not your allies; avoid forming bonds with them
• Don't think it's frightening you
• Stay away from descending slopes in open areas as elephants can run quickly.
• Avoid spending time scaling fragile tree limbs.
