Key points:
- UN judge convicted of forced labour
- Victim exploited for free childcare
- Conspired to breach UK immigration law
A UNITED Nations judge and Ugandan High Court justice, Lydia Mugambe, has been found guilty of multiple modern slavery offences in the United Kingdom. The verdict was delivered on Thursday at Oxford Crown Court, where Mugambe was convicted of forcing a young Ugandan woman to work as her domestic servant and provide unpaid childcare while residing in the UK.
According to reports from the court, Mugambe, 49, exploited her powerful status to manipulate and control the young woman’s life, denying her opportunities for proper employment and freedom. Prosecutors described the offences as an egregious abuse of power and trust.
Exploitation behind closed doors
Mugambe, who was pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Oxford at the time, was found guilty of several charges, including conspiring to breach UK immigration law, facilitating travel with intent to exploit, forcing someone to work, and conspiring to intimidate a witness.
During the trial, Caroline Haughey KC, prosecuting, argued that Mugambe had lured the young woman to the UK under false pretences. Jurors were told the victim believed she was coming to the UK for legitimate employment, only to find herself trapped in exploitative conditions.
‘Lydia Mugambe exploited and abused her victim, taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to properly paid employment and deceiving her about the real purpose of her coming to the UK,’ Haughey told the court.
A conspiracy to exploit and intimidate
The court also heard that Mugambe conspired with Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner to the UK, John Leonard Mugerwa. Mugerwa allegedly arranged sponsorship for the young woman’s visa via the Ugandan High Commission. In exchange, prosecutors said Mugambe agreed to use her judicial influence to assist Mugerwa in an ongoing legal case.
Prosecutors described their actions as a ‘dishonest trade-off,’ orchestrated to benefit both parties at the expense of the victim. They presented evidence suggesting Mugambe’s primary goal was to exploit the young woman for personal convenience and minimal cost.
‘She intended to obtain someone to make her life easier, at the least possible cost to herself,’ the prosecution said.
Victim speaks out on isolation and control
The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave emotional testimony about her experience under Mugambe’s control. She told the court she felt ‘lonely’ and ‘stuck,’ with her freedom restricted and working hours tightly controlled.
Despite Mugambe’s claims that she treated the woman with kindness and patience, the jury accepted the prosecution’s case that the judge subjected her to forced domestic labour and psychological manipulation.
UN appointment amid police investigation
Mugambe was appointed to the United Nations judicial roster in May 2023, just three months after UK police were called to her home in Oxfordshire. According to her UN profile, she had been a respected legal figure before the trial exposed her criminal conduct.
Her conviction marks a significant fall from grace for the once-celebrated judge and raises questions about vetting processes for international judicial appointments.
What happens next?
Mugambe’s sentencing is expected to follow in the coming weeks. Legal experts say the case highlights the urgent need for stronger protections against modern slavery and exploitation, even among individuals in positions of power and influence.
The UK’s Modern Slavery Act criminalises forced labour and human trafficking, and this case reinforces the importance of enforcing those laws without fear or favour.
