A Ugandan court in Rukungiri District, has reportedly sentenced a woman, Fortunate Kyarikunda to six months in civil prison for failing to repay tuition costs after breaking a marriage agreement.
According to the report, Richard Tumwiine, a teacher, had funded Kyarikunda’s legal studies, amounting to roughly USh 14 million, including interest/damages, with the understanding that they would marry.
However, upon graduating and getting a job, Kyarikunda declined to proceed with the marriage.
The court then ruled that she had breached a valid agreement and ordered her to refund the money. But because she failed to pay the court-ordered compensation, she was sent to civil prison for six months or until the debt is paid. Reports further indicate that she chose to face prison rather than marry her sponsor, stating that her “heart refuses to marry him”.
