The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has denied it was responsible for the outbreak of a fire that gutted several facilities at Park View Safari Lodge belonging to the Sheema Municipality Member of Parliament, Dickson Kateshumbwa.

"On Friday, July 23, 2021, there was an outbreak of fire at Park View Safari Lodge which gutted the lodge facilities causing damage and loss of property. As a result, statements have been made to the media by the Management of the Lodge accusing UWA to be the cause of the fire.
Specifically, we refer to a statement authored by one Solomon Oleny on behalf of the lodge and other media interviews alleging that the fire started from Queen Elizabeth National Park,” UWA noted.

UWA informed the public that there has been no management burning in the park since the beginning of this year, “therefore, the allegations are unfounded, untrue and should be ignored.
This unfortunate incident is being investigated by Police and we urge the management of the Park View Safari Lodge to allow the investigations to take their course. We also urge them to desist from making unfounded conclusive statements that implicate UWA in the matter until we get to the bottom of what caused the fire.”

On Friday, Oleny who is the hotel’s public relations officer had issued a statement claiming UWA started the fire.

“On Friday, July 23, UWA in Queen Elizabeth National Park lit up bush fire in the park, a practice they normally do during the dry season. Without creating a buffer, and high winds, the fire spread beyond the park into Parkview Safari Lodge. 15 cottages and the main restaurant building and office were burnt down to ashes. 
We are now assessing the full extent of the damage. At the same time, we are focusing on business continuity with the remaining 5 cottages in our high-end section that was spared,” Oleny said.

Oleny assured their clients that the hotel would overcome this tragedy, “restart the business and rebuild to perfection. 

"This is not the first time a lodge in this area has been burnt down as a result of reckless and uncontrolled bush burning by UWA, we condemn this practice and call upon UWA to take responsibility.”

UWA, however, noted that they were committed to fostering a good working relationship with Park View Safari Lodge and all stakeholders along the tourism value chain as partners in the tourism industry.

“We are concerned about this incident because loss to any of our stakeholders is a loss to the industry and it affects UWA and the country at large. We extend our sympathies to the Management of Park View Safari Lodge upon this unfortunate incident and pray that they overcome this and resume normal operations,” UWA added.