The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has told Parliament that the health of jailed veteran opposition politician, Dr. Kizza Besigye, has significantly deteriorated.

Mao, who was tasked by the House Speaker, Anita Among, to update lawmakers on the condition of the four-time presidential contender, said that Besigye’s condition is alarming.

“This morning, I had a conversation with the Commissioner General of the Uganda Prison Service to find out the current situation of Colonel Dr. Kizza Bsigye. He told me the following: as of today, Colonel Kiiza Besigye has been on hunger strike for six days. This is his seventh day. He is only taking water. He is not eating any food,” Mao said.

He added, “The Commissioner General informed me that because of the hunger strike, his health has deteriorated.”

Besigye was sent to Luzira Maximum Security Prison by the General Court on charges related to security, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and treachery.

He started a hunger strike after the government refused to release him from jail following a January 31 Supreme Court ruling that declared the trial of civilians in the military courts illegal.

On Sunday, his condition worsened, which forced the prison authorities to evacuate him to a private medical facility in Bugolobi, Kampala, where he was attended to and returned to prison.

Mao told Parliament that Besigye’s evacuation to the private hospital was done in the presence of his personal doctor and sister, Olive Kobusingye.

Mao, however, refused to reveal the details of the medical report.

“It is not appropriate for me to report details of what was found. This is a part of the doctor-patient confidentiality, but the Commissioner General said definitely his health condition is alarming.”

“The prison authorities were able to take him to the hospital. Comprehensive tests were carried out, and the doctors are managing him. The Commissioner General also informed me that Colonel Kizza Besigye has continued and continues with the hunger strike, and that means, of course, that any medical response will not have a major impact. It will not improve because of the hunger strike,” Mao told lawmakers.

House Speaker Anita Among blamed the government, saying that Besigye is on a hunger strike because he has been unfairly prosecuted.

“Dr. Besigye is not on a hunger strike because he would love to be on one. He is on a hunger strike because he believes he is being unfairly treated in an unfair trial,” she said.