A United Nations judge and Ugandan High Court justice has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after being convicted of enslaving a Ugandan woman in her home in Oxfordshire.
Lydia Mugambe, 50, was pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when authorities uncovered that a young Ugandan woman was being forced to perform unpaid duties as a housekeeper and childminder in her residence.
Following her conviction in March for modern slavery-related offences, Mugambe appeared at Oxford Crown Court for sentencing. Judge David Foxton, presiding over the case, stated that Mugambe showed “no remorse” and attempted to place blame on the victim.
The court heard that Mugambe had obtained a visa for the victim under false pretenses, claiming she would be employed as a private domestic worker at the London residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner. However, prosecutors said this arrangement was a façade, and the woman was instead brought to Mugambe’s home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, to work without pay.
It was alleged that Mr. Mugerwa knowingly sponsored the visa, with the understanding that Mugambe would assist him with an unrelated legal matter back in Uganda.
Mugambe covered the victim’s travel expenses and personally picked her up from the airport. What followed, the court heard, was a period of domestic servitude under conditions described as exploitative and abusive.
Judge Foxton described the case as “tragic,” particularly given Mugambe’s previous reputation as a legal professional committed to human rights advocacy.
In a victim impact statement read out by prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC, the woman shared her emotional trauma, describing a life lived in “almost constant fear,” particularly due to Mugambe’s influential status in Uganda. The victim, whose identity remains protected, expressed fears of returning to Uganda and the painful possibility of never reuniting with her mother.
Haughey explained that Mugambe manipulated the situation by taking advantage of the victim’s unfamiliarity with UK employment laws and misrepresenting the nature of her visit. The prosecution emphasized a stark power imbalance between the two.
Though police received authorization to charge John Mugerwa with conspiracy, he was shielded from prosecution due to diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan government declined to revoke.
During the trial, Mugambe denied all allegations, asserting that she treated the woman with kindness and patience. However, authorities found evidence suggesting otherwise.
Chief Superintendent Ben Clark of Thames Valley Police confirmed that Mugambe was fully aware of her actions. “This case highlights the hidden nature of modern slavery. I commend the courage of the victim, whose actions may inspire others in similar circumstances to come forward,” he said.
A representative from the University of Oxford expressed the institution’s dismay over the case, stating that disciplinary proceedings had begun and that the university had the authority to expel students convicted of serious criminal offenses.
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