Drama has rocked western Uganda after a woman who reportedly received millions from her lover to study law ended up in prison for refusing to marry him.
Fortunate Kyarikunda, a law enforcement officer at Rubanda Town Council, was on Tuesday hauled to civil prison by the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Rukungiri after failing to refund more than Shs14 million to the man who sponsored her education hoping she would become his wife.
The complainant, Richard Tumwiine, a primary school teacher from Kanungu District, told court he spent years supporting Kyarikunda financially, including paying for her studies at the Law Development Centre in Kampala.
But after completing the prestigious Diploma in Legal Practice, the relationship collapsed — and so did the marriage plans.
Love Story Turns into Court Battle
According to court records, Tumwiine and Kyarikunda met in 2015 while both were teachers at Kiringa Primary School in Kambuga Sub-county.
Their relationship blossomed and by 2018 the couple had agreed to marry, with Tumwiine reportedly pouring money into the relationship, including about Shs9.4 million to sponsor Kyarikunda’s bar course at LDC.
The pair even planned a traditional introduction ceremony in February 2022.
But just when wedding bells seemed near, Kyarikunda allegedly pulled the brakes on the relationship.
Her reason?
She reportedly told Tumwiine that he was too old for her and that continuing the relationship would cause her stress.
At the time, Tumwiine was said to be in his 60s, while Kyarikunda was still in her 30s.
Teacher Runs to Court
Feeling betrayed and financially drained, the teacher dragged her to court, accusing her of breaching a promise to marry him.
In January 2023, the Kanungu Grade One Magistrate’s Court ruled in Tumwiine’s favour and ordered Kyarikunda to refund Shs9,439,100 he had spent on her, plus Shs1 million in general damages for the emotional pain he suffered.
However, the law officer never paid the money.
Instead, she filed petitions claiming she had never received court summons, arguing that her phone had been used by her sister at the time. The court rejected her claims.
Arrested at Work
After ignoring multiple court orders, Kyarikunda’s troubles finally caught up with her.
On March 10, 2026, she was arrested while on duty at Rubanda Town Council and taken to Rukungiri to face the Chief Magistrate’s Court.
By then, the unpaid amount had grown to Shs14,099,100.
Magistrate Dinah Nekesa immediately ordered that she be committed to civil prison for up to six months unless the money is paid.
“She Deliberately Refused”
Tumwiine’s lawyer, Erasmus Nabimanya, welcomed the court decision, saying the woman had deliberately refused to comply with the ruling despite several opportunities.
Meanwhile, Tumwiine earlier said he chose the legal route to avoid taking the law into his own hands.
“I mobilized money from my salary, agricultural produce and rental structures because we were planning a future together,” he previously revealed.
Although the court victory may not heal the heartbreak, the teacher hopes the case will teach people the importance of keeping promises — especially in matters of love and money.
As Kyarikunda now sits behind bars, the once romantic relationship has turned into a costly lesson about mixing love, promises and finances.
