Judge jailed for enslaving housekeeper in UK

A United Nations judge and Ugandan High Court official, Lydia Mugambe, has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after being found guilty of keeping a young Ugandan woman as a domestic slave in the United Kingdom.

Mugambe, 50, was studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when police discovered the woman working unpaid in her Oxfordshire home as a maid and nanny.

She was convicted of modern slavery offences in March and sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.

During the hearing, Judge David Foxton condemned Mugambe for showing “absolutely no remorse” and for attempting to blame the victim.

He described the case as “very sad,” especially considering Mugambe’s prior work in human rights law.

The court heard that Mugambe arranged a fraudulent visa for the victim, claiming she would be employed as a paid servant at the London residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner.

However, the woman was instead taken directly to Mugambe’s home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, where she was forced into servitude.

Prosecutors revealed that Mugambe and Mr Mugerwa entered into a mutual arrangement: Mugerwa sponsored the victim’s visa in exchange for Mugambe’s legal support in a separate court case in Uganda.

Although charges were approved against Mugerwa for conspiracy, he was not prosecuted due to diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan government declined to waive.

Bodycam footage shown in court captured the moment Mugambe attempted to evade arrest by claiming diplomatic immunity, stating, “I even have immunity.”

The unnamed victim, speaking through a statement read by prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC, described her experience as one of “almost constant fear,” citing Mugambe’s political influence in Uganda.

She said she feared returning to her home country and might never see her mother again.

“Mugambe exploited a clear and significant imbalance of power,” Haughey said, adding that the victim was misled and lacked knowledge of her employment rights.

Chief Superintendent, Ben Clark of Thames Valley Police praised the victim’s courage and said, “There is no doubt that Mugambe knew she was committing offences.

“Modern slavery is a hidden and under-reported crime, and we hope this case encourages other victims to speak out.”

A University of Oxford spokesperson expressed deep concern over the case, stating the institution was “appalled” and had initiated disciplinary proceedings which could lead to Mugambe’s removal from the university.

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