Woman Jailed For Six Months After Refusing To Marry Man Who Paid Her School Fees
A woman in Uganda has been jailed for six months after refusing to marry a man who funded her education, in a case that has sparked widespread debate across the region. Fortunate Kyarikunda was sent to civil prison after a court ruled that she breached a promise to marry Richard Tumwine, a primary school teacher who had allegedly paid her school fees.
The ruling was delivered on 10 March by Rukungiri Grade One Magistrate Dianah Nekesa, who ordered that Kyarikunda be detained at Rukungiri Government Prison until she refunds the money spent on her education.
The amount she must repay totals USh 14,099,100, which includes the school fees and damages awarded by the court. The sum is estimated to be about US$3,700 (approximately R68,000).
Court Orders Prison Until Debt Is Paid
The court ruled that Kyarikunda should remain in civil prison for up to six months if the money is not repaid.
Part of the committal order reportedly states:
“Take and receive the said Kyarikunda Fortunate into civil prison and keep her imprisoned therein for a period not exceeding six months or until the judgement decree shall sooner be fully satisfied.”
The ruling followed an earlier judgement ordering her to repay the tuition fees and pay damages to Tumwine.
The court had previously determined that she should refund USh 9.43 million for the education costs and pay an additional USh 1 million in general damages for inconvenience and psychological distress suffered by Tumwine.
According to the Daily Monitor, the decision came after the court found that the woman had broken a promise-to-marry agreement.
Relationship Started During Teaching Practice
Reports indicate that the two first met in 2015 while Kyarikunda was doing her teaching practice at Kiringa Primary School in Kanungu District.
The Daily Monitor states that their relationship developed and later resulted in a promise-to-marry agreement in 2018.
Under the arrangement, Tumwine reportedly agreed to support her education financially.
When she later wanted to pursue a diploma at the Law Development Centre in Kampala, Tumwine allegedly paid tuition fees totalling USh 9.43 million.
After completing her studies, the couple reportedly began planning their traditional introduction ceremony and wedding.
Family Mediation Failed
The introduction ceremony was reportedly scheduled for February 2022.
However, the woman allegedly withdrew from the marriage plans before the ceremony could take place.
The publication reports that she later cited concerns that Tumwine was older than her.
Tumwine initially tried to resolve the matter through mediation.
“He involved relatives, local leaders and friends in mediation attempts,” the publication states.
Those efforts reportedly failed.
On 1 July 2022, Tumwine filed a civil case at the Kanungu Chief Magistrate’s Court through his lawyer Erasmus Nabimanya seeking compensation.
The court ruled in his favour.
Kyarikunda later tried to challenge the ruling, arguing that she had not been properly served with court papers.
However, the court dismissed the applications after she and her lawyer reportedly failed to appear in court to defend them.
As a result, the judgement ordering repayment remained in place, leading to the committal order issued on 10 March.