A United Nations judge has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after being convicted of forcing a young Ugandan woman to work as a slave in the United Kingdom.
The judge, Lydia Mugambe, aged 50, was found guilty on multiple charges, including conspiracy to facilitate the breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forced labour, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness. The verdict followed a trial that revealed the extent of Mugambe’s exploitation of her victim, a young woman who had previously worked in her household in Uganda.
At the time of the offences, Mugambe was a High Court judge in Uganda and was in the UK pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Oxford. Despite her academic and judicial credentials, she used her influence and status to manipulate and control the victim, luring her to the UK under false pretences. Once there, the woman was forced to work as a domestic servant and caregiver for Mugambe’s children, without pay or proper legal employment status.
According to the prosecution, Mugambe took advantage of the woman’s unfamiliarity with her rights and misled her about the purpose of her travel. The court heard that Mugambe’s primary motive was to gain personal domestic support at minimal cost. She ensured the victim remained dependent, restricting her ability to find alternative work and isolating her socially and financially.
In addition to the charges related to forced labour, Mugambe was also convicted of attempting to obstruct justice. Evidence presented in court showed that she conspired with John Leonard Mugerwa, the Ugandan deputy high commissioner, to facilitate the woman’s entry into the UK under a fraudulent sponsorship arrangement. In return for Mugerwa’s assistance, Mugambe allegedly tried to influence a separate legal matter involving him.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, recounted feeling “lonely” and “stuck” after her limited working rights made it impossible to find stable employment or financial independence. She described being forced into long hours of unpaid domestic work, with little freedom or autonomy.
During her arrest by British police, Mugambe claimed diplomatic immunity, insisting she was not a criminal and that the woman had voluntarily asked to accompany her to the UK. She told officers that she held a diplomatic passport and denied any wrongdoing, asserting that she never forced the woman to work and always treated her kindly.
However, jurors were not convinced by her version of events. The court concluded that Mugambe had deliberately manipulated the situation to her advantage, using her judicial status to intimidate and silence the victim.
Prosecutors highlighted the severity of the abuse, stressing that the judge had shown a blatant disregard for the law and human dignity. The court was told that Mugambe’s actions constituted a serious breach of trust and responsibility, particularly given her role in the judiciary and her association with international institutions such as the United Nations.
Her conviction sends a clear message that status and power do not place individuals above the law. The case underscores the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and ensuring that those who commit such offences are held accountable, regardless of their position.
