A police officer in western Uganda has been remanded to civil prison after failing to repay more than Shs14 million that a former partner spent on her education in anticipation of marriage.
Fortunate Kyarikunda was committed to prison by a court in Rukungiri District after she failed to comply with an earlier judgment ordering her to refund the money to Richard Tumwiine, a retired teacher.
According to court records, Kyarikunda and Tumwiine met in 2015 and began a relationship that they said would lead to marriage. During the relationship, Tumwiine financed Kyarikunda’s studies at the Law Development Centre in Kampala, where she pursued a Diploma in Legal Practice.
Tumwiine told court that he spent about Shs9.4 million on tuition and related expenses with the understanding that the couple would eventually formalize their relationship through a customary introduction ceremony and marriage.
However, after completing the course, Kyarikunda reportedly ended the relationship, telling Tumwiine that she could no longer proceed with the marriage. She cited their age difference, explaining that she was in her 30s while Tumwiine was in his 60s.
Feeling aggrieved, Tumwiine filed a civil case seeking a refund of the money he had invested in her education.
In 2023, the court ruled in his favour and ordered Kyarikunda to refund the Shs9.4 million and pay an additional Shs1 million in damages. Court records show she later challenged the decision, arguing that she had not been properly served with court summons, but her application was dismissed.
After failing to settle the judgment debt, the amount reportedly rose to approximately Shs14.1 million due to accrued costs and interest.
Kyarikunda was arrested on March 10, 2026 while on duty in Rubanda Town Council and taken to Rukungiri where court ordered that she be committed to civil prison for up to six months unless she clears the outstanding amount.
The case has sparked debate on social media and within legal circles about “breach of promise” disputes and the extent to which financial support given during relationships can be recovered through the courts. Critics argue that such cases risk treating personal relationships as contractual obligations, while others say the rulings help address financial exploitation arising from promises of marriage.
Under Ugandan civil procedure rules, a judgment debtor who fails to honour a court order to pay money can be committed to civil prison for a specified period, although the debt remains payable.
