UN judge who kept slave in Oxford home left victim in ‘constant fear'

Telegraph

02-05-2025

A former United Nations judge who enslaved a young woman left her living in 'constant fear', a court heard.
Lydia Mugambe, 50, was jailed for six years and four months following a trial at Oxford Crown Court.
Mugambe, who was studying for a PhD in law at Oxford University at the time, was found to have taken 'advantage of her status' over the Ugandan woman in the 'most egregious way'.
Mugambe, who was also a High Court judge in Uganda, stopped the woman from holding steady employment and forced her to work as her maid and provide childcare, prosecutors said.
Mugambe's trial heard she wanted to 'obtain someone to make her life easier and at the least possible cost to herself'.
Judge David Foxton, sentencing Mugambe on Friday, said it was a 'very sad case', outlining her legal accomplishments, including work concerning the protection of human rights.
He said Mugambe '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' because of Mugambe's powerful standing in Uganda.
The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she 'can't go back to Uganda', citing concerns of what may happen to her and added that she may never see her mother again.
Speaking anonymously ahead of the sentencing, the woman described Mugambe as 'fierce' and said 'everything I did was under duress and fear'.
She said: 'Even after the police had visited her house on the first occasion, Lydia told me she had the authority and that she would burn my passport and bank card.
'She also said she would call the police because I was in the UK illegally.'
'I have immunity'
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.
In footage released by Thames Valley Police, the defendant appeared shocked when an officer said he was arresting her at her address in Oxfordshire under the Modern Slavery Act on Feb 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.'
Thames Valley Police 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 told the court that the victim had been granted asylum in the UK on the basis that she has a well-founded fear of persecution in Uganda.
Mugambe conspired with John Leonard Mugerwa, a Ugandan deputy high commissioner, 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 Mugambe conspired to intimidate the woman into withdrawing her support for the prosecution, or dropping the charges against her.
Mugambe contacted a pastor to assist in contacting 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.
'Hidden in plain sight'
The judge issued a restraining order to Mugambe in which she cannot directly or indirectly communicate with 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. 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.
'As a qualified lawyer, a Ugandan High Court judge and a United Nations criminal tribunal judge, Lydia Mugambe understood the rule of law and chose to overlook it.'