Among the deceased was Robert Wamala Lumanyika, widely known as “Tax Mwalimu,” who gained national recognition through URA’s public tax education campaigns and community outreach programs.
Three staff members of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), including renowned tax educator Robert Wamala Lumanyika, popularly known as “Tax Mwalimu,” have died in a tragic road accident involving an elephant along the Gulu–Kampala highway near Karuma.
The fatal incident occurred on Sunday evening near the section bordering Murchison Falls National Park, an area frequently associated with wildlife crossings.
According to preliminary reports, the URA officials were travelling in a white passenger van when the vehicle collided with an elephant that had reportedly wandered onto the highway. Witnesses said the injured animal became aggressive moments after the impact and charged at the vehicle, overturning it and trapping the occupants inside.
Videos circulating on social media showed the wrecked van lying overturned by the roadside as residents and passing motorists rushed to assist in rescue efforts.
Among the deceased was Robert Wamala Lumanyika, widely known as “Tax Mwalimu,” who gained national recognition through URA’s public tax education campaigns and community outreach programs. He was celebrated for simplifying complex tax matters and making them understandable to ordinary Ugandans.
Colleagues, friends, and members of the public have since paid tribute to Lumanyika, describing him as a passionate educator, mentor, and dedicated public servant whose work helped improve tax awareness across the country.
The incident has also sparked renewed concern over road safety along highways that pass through wildlife corridors and protected conservation areas. Many social media users called on motorists to exercise extra caution when travelling near national parks, especially during the evening and nighttime hours when wild animals are more likely to cross roads.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the identities of the other deceased URA staff members as investigations into the accident continue.
