A Ugandan High Court judge and former United Nations criminal tribunal judge, Lydia Mugambe, has been sentenced to six years and four months in a UK prison for modern slavery and immigration offences. The 49-year-old, who was also pursuing a PhD at Oxford University, was found guilty of using her legal knowledge and position to traffic and exploit a young Ugandan woman as an unpaid domestic worker in her Oxfordshire home.
The conviction was the result of a complex investigation by Thames Valley Police, which began in February 2023 after reports emerged that a woman was being held in domestic servitude at Mugambe’s then-residence on Brasenose Drive in Kidlington.
According to evidence presented in court, Mugambe arranged for the victim to enter the UK on a domestic worker visa under false pretences. The visa claimed the woman would be employed by John Mugerwa, then Uganda’s Deputy High Commissioner in London. In reality, Mugambe, who could not legally sponsor a visa as a student, picked the woman up from the airport and forced her to work without pay as a maid and nanny in her home.
The court heard that Mugerwa used his diplomatic privileges to assist in obtaining the visa and was aware that the woman would not be working for him but for Mugambe. Communications between the two showed that Mugerwa agreed to help in exchange for Mugambe’s support in a legal matter in Uganda.
Despite police efforts, Mugerwa could not be charged due to diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan government declined to waive.
During the trial at Oxford Crown Court, Mugambe was convicted on multiple counts, including:
- Conspiring to breach UK immigration law
- Requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour
- Conspiracy to intimidate a witness
- Facilitating travel with a view to exploitation (by majority verdict)
Chief Superintendent Ben Clark of Thames Valley Police condemned the judge’s actions, saying:
“Lydia Mugambe is an extremely qualified lawyer. There is no doubt she knew she was breaking the law. She used her power and knowledge to trap the victim in a life of unpaid servitude, and even tried to hide behind diplomatic immunity.”
Following her conviction, the United Nations confirmed it had waived any immunity she held in her capacity as a UN Judge. Oxford University has since announced it will begin disciplinary action.
The victim, who has since been freed, was praised for her bravery in reporting the abuse. Support agencies including Justice and Care and the National Crime Agency’s Specialist Witness Team have been working closely with her throughout the investigation.
Sentencing took place on 2 May at Oxford Crown Court.
