A 40-year-old Ugandan man who was awarded millions after winning a lawsuit in which he accused his former fiance of breach of a promise to marry him now says the compensation is not enough.
The man, who was awarded 10 million Ugandan shillings in compensation for emotional pain, says he is not contented as he expected the court to award him more.
“It’s not enough for me. That is the same amount I spent on her and even the 1 million for damages is still little. I expected at least 16 million,” he said.
According to court records, the man identified as Richard Tumwine and his then-girlfriend Fortunate Kyarikunda started their love relationship in 2015 and the duo later entered a promise to marriage agreement in 2018.
During this time, Tumwine, who is a primary school teacher said he financially supported Kyarikunda, including sponsoring her for a diploma in law at the Law Development Center (LDC) where he said he spent more than 9.4 million Ugandan shilling.
The Kanungu Grade One Magistrate, Asanasio Mukobi, ruled that since the promise to marry was not fulfilled by Kyarikunda to the detriment of Tumwine, then he is entitled to reimbursement of his sh9.4m spent on her.
Mukobi also ordered Kyarikunda to pay Sh1 million to Tumwine as general damages for inconveniences and psychological anguish suffered.
During the hearing of the case, Tumwine told the court that the introduction ceremony was slated for February 2022 but it did not take place with no justifiable reason given.
The court heard that Kyarikunda came up with an excuse that her parents have stated that their daughter should not get married to an older man referring to Tumwine.
But the court held: “This is equally unreasonable, a misrepresentation and a fraud. In any case, the defendant had all the opportunity to reject the plaintiff’s love requests at the earliest point possible and avoid interfering with his financial obligations.”
The court observed that the two people were engaged in a love relationship and from the exhibits presented, arrangements for an introduction ceremony had been made.
