A recent ruling by a Ugandan court has resulted in the dismissal of an application made by a woman who had been fined for failing to keep a promise to marry a man who had supported her education.
Fortunate Kyarikunda, a law enforcement officer, had been fined Sh. 348,000 by the Kanungu Magistrate Court for breaching her commitment to marry Richard Tumwine, a local teacher who had paid for her diploma in law, under the assumption that they would be wed in the future.
Kyarikunda challenged the decision, claiming that she had not been given the opportunity to defend herself and that she had not been duly served with summons to file her defense.
“Whereas Mr Richard Tumwiine’s story was heard, no one has ever heard from our client and yet people continue to judge her wrongly. We shall appeal because all we want is for our client to be heard,” Ms Sarah Nakike, a lawyer representing Ms Kyarikunda, said.
However, the magistrate rejected her application on the basis that she had forged signatures and altered evidence during amendment.
Kyarikunda’s lawyers have expressed disappointment with the court’s ruling and have indicated that they will appeal. Mr. Tumwine, on the other hand, has welcomed the decision but is disappointed that he was not awarded the costs of the suit.
