Love can be blind, expensive… and in this case, apparently payable in installments or jail time.
A court in Rukungiri has thrown romance into the legal textbooks after ordering a woman to cool off in prison for up to six months for failing to refund a man who sponsored her education—apparently as part of what he believed was a “pay now, marry later” relationship package.
Grade One Magistrate Dianah Nekesa ruled on March 10 that Fortunate Kyarikunda should be committed to civil prison until she coughs up Shs14,099,100, the amount a heartbroken Richard Tumwine says he invested in her education and relationship dreams.
In simple terms: No refund, no freedom.
According to court documents, the love story began innocently in 2015 when Kyarikunda met Tumwine while doing school practice at a primary school in Kanungu District. By 2018, the pair had allegedly sealed their relationship with a promise to marry—a deal Tumwine seems to have taken as seriously as a bank loan agreement.
Soon after, Kyarikunda expressed interest in studying at the Law Development Centre in Kampala. Tumwine, playing the role of romantic sponsor-in-chief, reportedly stepped in and paid Shs9.43 million in tuition fees.
Things were moving smoothly. Wedding preparations were reportedly underway, and an introduction ceremony was even scheduled for February 2022.
Then came the plot twist.
Kyarikunda allegedly backed out of the marriage plans, reportedly telling Tumwine she could not go through with the wedding because he was too old.
That statement appears to have aged the relationship very badly.
After failed attempts at mediation involving local leaders, police, friends, and relatives, Tumwine decided the matter had graduated from romance to full courtroom drama. He filed a civil case in 2022 demanding a refund.
The court eventually ruled that Kyarikunda had breached the promise to marry and ordered her to refund the tuition money and pay Shs1 million in damages for Tumwine’s inconvenience and emotional stress.
But the legal saga didn’t end there.
Kyarikunda later tried to overturn the ruling, claiming she had not been properly served with court summons. Unfortunately for her, she and her lawyer reportedly failed to show up in court to argue their case.
The magistrate was not amused.
“This court finds that the applicant has defeated her own pursuit for justice because she has consistently never appeared before this court,” the ruling stated.
With additional legal costs piling up, the amount owed ballooned to Shs14,099,100—and the court finally ordered her detention until payment is made or six months pass.
Tumwine’s lawyer welcomed the decision, essentially sending a clear message to anyone making wedding promises on credit:
If you borrow love money, you might have to pay it back—with interest… or with prison time.
Meanwhile, the case has sparked laughter, shock, and debate across social media, with many Ugandans joking that relationships may soon require receipts, contracts, and maybe even repayment plans. 💔💰⚖️
