UN judge jailed for more than six years for forcing woman to work as slave

A United Nations judge has been jailed for six years and four months after being convicted of forcing a young woman to work as a slave.

Lydia Mugambe, 50, was found to have taken “advantage of her status” over the Ugandan woman in the “most egregious way”, while she studied for a PhD in law at Oxford university.

Mugambe, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, stopped the woman holding down steady employment and forced her to work as her maid and provide childcare, prosecutors said.

Judge David Foxton, sentencing Mugambe at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, said it was a “very sad case”, outlining her legal accomplishments, including work concerning the protection of human rights.

Mr Foxton added that the defendant “showed absolutely no remorse” for her conduct and that she looked to “forcibly blame” the victim for what happened.

In a written statement, read to the court by prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC, the victim described living in “almost constant fear” due to Mugambe’s powerful standing in Uganda.

The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said that she “can’t go back to Uganda” due to concerns of what may happen to her and added that she may never see her mother again.

Mugambe was found guilty in March of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness after a trial.

In footage released by Thames Valley Police (TVP), the defendant appeared shocked when an officer said he was arresting her at her address in Oxfordshire under the Modern Slavery Act on February 12 2023.

She then had a conversation with the officer, in which she said: “I am a judge in my country, I even have immunity. I am not a criminal.”

TVP said: “Any immunity Mugambe may have enjoyed as a UN judge has been waived by the office of the United Nations Secretary General.”

Ms Haughey said that Mugambe exploited her victim by taking advantage of her lack of knowledge about employment rights and misleading her about why she came to the UK.

She said on Friday that there was a “clear and significant imbalance of power within the relationship” between Mugambe and her victim.

Ms Haughey told the court that the victim has been granted asylum in the UK on the basis that she has a well-founded fear of persecution in Uganda.

Mugambe conspired with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa to bring the young woman to the UK, the court heard.

Ms Haughey said they took part in a “very dishonest” trade-off, in which Mr Mugerwa arranged for the Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman’s entrance into the UK in exchange for Mugambe attempting to speak to a judge who was in charge of legal action in which Mr Mugerwa was named.

Jurors also accepted that the defendant conspired to intimidate the woman to have her withdraw her support for the prosecution, or the charges against her to be dropped.

Mugambe contacted a pastor to assist in making contact with the young Ugandan woman, arranged for members of the woman’s family to be contacted so they could persuade her to drop the case, and arranged for an email to be sent directly to her, the court heard.

She denied forcing the young woman to do household chores and said she “always” treated her with love, care and patience.

The judge gave Mugambe a restraining order with terms saying she can not directly or indirectly contact the victim.

Paul Raudnitz KC, defending, spoke of Mugambe’s “glittering legal career” and told of the great support she has received since her conviction.

A small crowd held placards and chanted “Justice for Lydia Mugambe” outside the court before the hearing took place.

Mr Raudnitz also said that Mugambe has resigned as a UN judge.

Lynette Woodrow, deputy chief crown prosecutor and national lead for modern slavery said “Lydia Mugambe took advantage of the victim, who was hidden in plain sight through forced labour working as a maid and providing childcare for free.

“Modern slavery offences such as this one are incredibly serious and can have a profound effect on the lives of victims.”