By Stella Turyasingura
Kanungu Magistrate’s Court yesterday dismissed an application by Fortunate Kyarikunda seeking to overturn a ruling in which she was fined Shs 10.4m for breaching a marriage promise.
In her appeal, Kyarikunda said she was not given an opportunity to defend herself.
Kanungu Grade One Magistrate Asanasio Mukobi yesterday ruled that Fortunate Kyarikunda’s application could not stand since she forged signatures and altered evidence.
Kyarikunda, who was not in court yesterday, was represented by her lawyers from M/s Nasike & Company Advocates.
The lawyers said they were not satisfied with the court ruling and would appeal.
Erasmus Nabimanya, who was representing Tumwiine, welcomed the court ruling but said they should have been awarded the costs of the suit.
Tumwiine yesterday said Kyarikunda’s absence from court raises more questions.
Court in Kanungu early this year ruled that Kyarikunda breached a 2018 promise to marry Richard Tumwine who paid her tuition for a diploma in law on the understanding that she would be his future wife. Kyarikunda was fined Shs10.4m.
However, this prompted the Kanungu district chairperson Sam Kajojo Arineteitwe to protest against the court verdict arguing that it encourages men to target school-going girls coming from poor families with money with the mission of sexually harassing them.
Kyarikunda is currently working as a Law Enforcement Officer in Rubanda Town council, Rubanda district.
