UN judge Lydia Mugambe jailed for enslaving Ugandan woman in UK

United Nations judge Lydia Mugambe has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison by Oxford Crown Court for forcing a Ugandan woman into domestic servitude while studying in the UK.

Mugambe, 50, a High Court judge in Uganda and PhD student at the University of Oxford, was convicted in March on multiple charges: conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel for exploitation, forced labour, and witness intimidation.

The court heard that Mugambe tricked the woman—who had previously worked in her Ugandan household—into traveling to the UK under the false promise of legitimate work.

Instead, she was made to work unpaid as a maid and nanny in Mugambe’s Oxfordshire home, while being denied employment rights and subjected to coercion.

Judge David Foxton said Mugambe showed “absolutely no remorse” and used her status to exploit her victim, who lived in “constant fear.”

The woman, whose identity is protected, said in a statement she fears returning to Uganda due to Mugambe’s influence.

Mugambe also conspired with Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner to the UK, John Mugerwa, who arranged the woman’s visa under false pretenses.

Prosecutors said Mugambe offered legal help in a separate Ugandan court case involving Mugerwa in return for his assistance.

He was not charged due to diplomatic immunity.

Bodycam footage from her arrest showed Mugambe claiming she had diplomatic immunity and was “not a criminal.”

The University of Oxford said it is initiating disciplinary proceedings.

Police praised the victim’s courage and urged other modern slavery victims to come forward.