UN judge jailed for enslaving Ugandan woman in UK
Lydia Mugambe, 50, was found guilty of modern slavery offenses after investigators uncovered that a Ugandan woman had been working in her Oxfordshire home without pay, performing tasks as a housekeeper and nanny.
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A Ugandan High Court judge and former PhD student at the University of Oxford has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison for keeping a young woman in domestic servitude in the UK.
Lydia Mugambe, 50, was found guilty of modern slavery offenses after investigators uncovered that a Ugandan woman had been working in her Oxfordshire home without pay, performing tasks as a housekeeper and nanny.
The court heard that Mugambe orchestrated the woman’s travel to the UK under false pretenses, using a visa sponsored by John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner in London. Although the visa claimed she would be employed at a diplomatic residence, she was instead made to work in Mugambe’s private residence in Kidlington.
In a disturbing bodycam clip played in court, Mugambe was seen telling arresting officers, “I even have immunity,” in an attempt to avoid detention.
Judge David Foxton, who presided over the case at Oxford Crown Court, said Mugambe showed “absolutely no remorse” and attempted to shift blame onto the victim. The judge lamented the irony of Mugambe’s background in human rights law, calling it “a very sad case.”
The victim, whose identity is protected, revealed in a statement that she lived in constant fear due to Mugambe’s status in Uganda. She said she may never return home or reunite with her mother, fearing repercussions.
Prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC stated that Mugambe manipulated the woman’s vulnerability and ignorance of UK employment laws, exploiting the stark power imbalance between them.
Although charges were also considered against Mr. Mugerwa, his diplomatic immunity shielded him from prosecution, and the Ugandan government declined to lift it.
Mugambe denied wrongdoing, insisting she treated the woman with care. However, Thames Valley Police confirmed they had strong evidence she knowingly violated the law.
The University of Oxford expressed deep concern over the incident, stating it has begun disciplinary proceedings that could lead to Mugambe's expulsion due to the severity of the conviction.
