Woman Jailed 6 Months After Breaking Promise To Marry Man Who Paid Her Fees, Saying ‘You’re Too Old’

Failed Romance Turns Costly As Woman Jailed Over School Fees Dispute

A Ugandan law enforcement officer is behind bars after a court ruled she must repay a man who funded her education under a promise-to-marry agreement, with the total amount now sitting at over USh 14 million (US$ 3,800 / ZAR 63,400).

Fortunate Kyarikunda, who works as a law enforcement officer attached to Rubanda Town Council, was committed to Rukungiri Government Prison on March 10, 2026. The sentencing follows a long-running legal battle with Richard Tumwine, a primary school teacher from Kanungu District who paid for her diploma studies at the Law Development Centre (LDC) in Kampala.

Rukungiri Grade One Magistrate Dianah Nekesa ordered that Kyarikunda remain in civil prison for a period not exceeding six months, or until she settles the full amount owed to Tumwine.

The committal document reportedly stated:

“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.”

How A Teaching Practice Romance Led To Court

The story of Fortunate Kyarikunda and Richard Tumwine began in 2015 at Kiringa Primary School in Kanungu District. At the time, Kyarikunda was conducting her teaching practice while Tumwine was already employed there as a teacher. The two fell in love and by 2018, they had entered into a formal promise-to-marry agreement.

When Kyarikunda expressed her desire to pursue a Diploma in Law at the prestigious Law Development Centre in Kampala, Tumwine agreed to fund her education. He reportedly spent USh 9.43 million (US$ 2,550 / ZAR 42,700) on her tuition fees, drawing from his teacher’s salary, agricultural proceeds, and rental income. Tumwine stated:

“I mobilized money from my salary, agricultural produce and rental structures because we were planning a future together.”

After Kyarikunda completed her bar course, the couple began planning their traditional introduction ceremony, which was scheduled for February 2022. However, according to court documents, Kyarikunda abruptly called off the marriage plans.

‘He Is Too Old’: The Reason For Backing Out

The reason Kyarikunda gave for ending the relationship was straightforward – she claimed Tumwine was too old for her and that proceeding with the marriage would cause her stress. She cited his advanced age as the primary concern, with some reports indicating the age gap was significant, though Tumwine maintains he was 33 when they met while Kyarikunda was in her 20s.

Tumwine initially believed Kyarikunda was simply experiencing pre-wedding nerves. He engaged local leaders, relatives, friends, and even police to mediate between them, but all efforts to salvage the relationship failed.

Speaking about his emotional state at the time, Tumwine said:

“I was stressed, I had self-hatred and I didn’t know what to do with my life. I then visited the area LC 3 chairperson and crime intelligence officers who advised me to calm down and seek court redress since the matter is civil in nature.”

He further explained why he chose the legal route, stating:

“I ran to court to avoid taking the law into my own hands.”

Court Rules In Favour Of Jilted Teacher

On July 1, 2022, Tumwine filed a civil suit at Kanungu Chief Magistrate’s Court through his lawyer, Erasmus Nabimanya. During the proceedings, Kanungu Grade One Magistrate Asanasio Mukobi examined the evidence, including mobile money transaction records showing Tumwine had sent funds to Kyarikunda.

The magistrate ruled:

“A clear perusal of exhibits indicates monies being sent by mobile money to Kyarikunda. This was when the love relationship between the two was at its apex. The said monies were spent on Kyarikunda in the hope that their relationship goes an extra mile up to marriage. This did not take place at Kyarikunda’s insistence. Kyarikunda cannot therefore retain Tumwine’s money and also withhold the consent to marry him.”

In his January 2023 ruling, Magistrate Mukobi ordered Kyarikunda to refund the USh 9.43 million (US$ 2,550 / ZAR 42,700) spent on her education, plus an additional USh 1 million (US$ 270 / ZAR 4,500) in general damages for the inconvenience and psychological anguish Tumwine suffered. He cited Article 126(2)(c) of Uganda’s 1995 Constitution, which mandates that courts ensure adequate compensation is awarded to victims of wrongs.

Kyarikunda, however, did not attend the proceedings nor file a defence.

Failed Appeals Lead To Prison Time

Following the initial ruling against her, Kyarikunda filed applications seeking to overturn the decision. She argued through her lawyers, Nasike and Co Advocates, that she had not been properly served with court summons, claiming her phone was in her sister’s possession at the time. In a May 25, 2025 ruling, Magistrate Mukobi dismissed her application with costs, stating:

“To say the least, this court finds that the applicant has defeated her own pursuit for justice. She has consistently never appeared before this court and so is her purported counsel. They do not even want the application filed by themselves to be heard and determined, although the applicant alleges that she wants justice by being heard… This is incredible, and it must be out of shame given the circumstances of the subject matter in the main suit. Justice is not only for the applicant but also the respondent.”

As Kyarikunda continued to ignore court orders and failed to pay, the amount ballooned to USh 14,099,100 (US$ 3,800 / ZAR 63,400) due to accumulated costs from the dismissed applications. She was arrested while on duty at Rubanda Town Council on March 10, 2026, and taken to face the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Rukungiri.

Jilted Lover Speaks Out After Court Victory

Following the committal order, Tumwine expressed satisfaction with the outcome, though he admitted the experience had taken its toll. He said:

“All I need is for her to refund my money because she breached the agreement. Although the court process was delayed, justice was finally and fairly delivered.”

Regarding his future marriage plans, Tumwine told reporters that the disappointment had left him needing a break from romantic entanglements. He stated:

“The recent disappointments stressed me so much that I need some rest from marriage issues.”

His lawyer, Erasmus Nabimanya, welcomed the court’s decision, noting that Kyarikunda’s consistent absence from court proceedings indicated she had no valid arguments to present. He explained that the increased amount reflected the various applications she had filed but failed to defend.

Mixed Reactions To Landmark Ruling

The case has sparked debate in Uganda and across East Africa, with opinions divided on whether justice was served. Some social media users defended Kyarikunda, arguing that women should not be forced into marriages simply because they received financial assistance. Others sided with Tumwine, suggesting that Kyarikunda should have been honest about her intentions from the beginning.