Since March 29, 2026, a rumor has been circulating on social media: a woman was allegedly sentenced to six years in prison for rejecting a marriage proposal from a man who had financed her studies. While the case may be true, the details circulating in the rumor are largely distorted.

The rumor: A disproportionate sentence?

According to viral posts, Fortunate Kyarikunda , a Ugandan woman, was allegedly given a heavy prison sentence simply for breaking a marriage promise made in 2018 to her partner, who had reportedly been supporting her financially since 2015.

The reality: A financial dispute, not a marital one.

The case, documented by the media outlet Independent.co.ug , is based on a contractual and civil dispute between two teachers, Fortunate Kyarikunda and Richard Tumwiine.

1. The context: In 2018, the couple signed an agreement: Richard committed to financing Fortunate's law studies (at the Law Development Centre in Kampala).
2. The breakup: Once she had her degree, the young woman (in her thirties) refused to marry Richard (in his sixties) and ended the relationship.
3. The legal battle: Feeling wronged, Richard Tumwiine sued his ex-partner for breach of promise of marriage and demanded reimbursement of tuition fees (approximately 9.4 million shillings).

Why is she behind bars?

Contrary to rumors, the sanction is not for refusing the union, but for failing to comply with a court decision .

Point of comparison	Rumor on social media	The reality of the facts
Reason for imprisonment	Refusal of marriage	Failure to repay a civil debt
Length of sentence	6 years in prison	Maximum 6 months (civil prison sentence)
Condition of release	Prison sentence	Immediate release upon payment of the debt

The verdict: In March 2026, Magistrate Dinah Nekesa of the Rukungiri court ordered Fortunate Kyarikunda to be imprisoned for six months. This measure followed his continued refusal to repay the sum owed, which now amounts to over 14 million shillings with interest and damages.

In summary: Fortunate Kyarikunda is not in prison because she said "no" to the marriage, but because she failed to comply with the civil court order requiring her to reimburse the tuition fees paid by her ex-husband. She will be released as soon as the debt is settled.