A court in Rukungiri has sentenced a female law enforcement officer to six months in civil prison after she failed to pay Shs14.1 million to her former boyfriend following a court order.
The officer, Fortunate Kyarikunda, who works with Rubanda Town Council, was committed to prison by the Rukungiri Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The money is owed to Richard Tumwiine, a primary school teacher who previously sued her for breach of a marriage promise.
Tumwiine told the court that he had spent more than Shs9.4 million on Kyarikunda’s studies at the Law Development Centre while the two were preparing to marry.
According to his testimony, the couple had even planned to hold their traditional introduction ceremony in February 2022. However, Kyarikunda later called off the plans, reportedly telling him that he was too old for her.
After hearing the case, Magistrate Grade One Asanasio Mukobi ordered Kyarikunda to refund the money Tumwiine had spent on her education and also pay legal costs, bringing the total amount to Shs14.1 million.
Court records show that she failed to comply with the compensation order despite several rulings.
As a result, the court ordered her arrest and she was sent to Rukungiri Government Prison, where she will remain for six months unless the money is paid earlier.
