The Chief Magistrate's court in Rukungiri district has sentenced Fortunate Kyarikunda to civil prison for up to six months for failing to compensate her former boyfriend Shs14 million for breach of a marriage promise.
Kyarikunda, a resident of Kiringa parish in Kanungu district, western Uganda, breached the marriage promise after her boyfriend Richard Tumwiine educated her.
The order followed a judgment that required Fortunate Kyarikunda to refund the amount spent on her by Richard Tumwiine for her education after she allegedly breached her promise to marry him.
The case stems from a ruling by the Kanungu Magistrate's court in January 2023 ordering Kyarikunda to refund Tumwiine Shs 9,439,100 that he had spent on her education while anticipating marriage. The court also awarded Tumwiine Shs 1 million in general damages for the inconvenience and psychological distress he suffered.
Kyarikunda lost the case after failing to file a defence or appear in court. Instead of complying with the ruling, she filed a petition in February 2023 seeking to have the judgment set aside, claiming she hadn't received court summons. The court dismissed the petition, and a subsequent application was also dismissed.
Kyarikunda was arrested from Rubanda town while on duty and presented before the Rukungiri Chief Magistrate's court for failing to comply with the court order.
Magistrate Dinah Nekesa ordered her committed to Rukungiri government prison for six months. The outstanding amount had accumulated to Shs 14,099,100.
