Lydia Mugambe, a 50-year-old Ugandan High Court judge and recently appointed UN judicial officer, has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison for enslaving a young Ugandan woman at her home in Oxfordshire.
Mugambe, who was pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Oxford at the time, was found guilty in March of multiple offences under modern slavery laws, including conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forced labour, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness.
The victim, brought into the UK on a fraudulently arranged visa, was expected to work at the Ugandan diplomatic residence in London. Instead, prosecutors revealed, she was taken to Mugambe’s home in Kidlington where she was made to work as an unpaid maid and nanny. The court also heard that the visa was arranged with the help of Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner, John Mugerwa, who was promised legal assistance from Mugambe in exchange.
Judge David Foxton, presiding over the sentencing at Oxford Crown Court, said Mugambe showed “absolutely no remorse” and attempted to shift blame to the victim. He described the case as “very sad,” acknowledging Mugambe’s previous work in human rights law but underscored the seriousness of her abuse of power.
A written statement by the victim, who was granted asylum in the UK, described living in “almost constant fear” due to Mugambe’s influence and said she may never be able to return to Uganda or see her mother again.
Prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC said Mugambe exploited the victim’s lack of understanding about her rights and misled her about the true nature of her work in the UK, emphasizing the “clear and significant imbalance of power.”
Defence lawyer Paul Raudnitz KC acknowledged Mugambe’s resignation from the UN judiciary and referenced her once “glittering legal career,” while supporters held placards outside the courtroom calling for “Justice for Lydia Mugambe.”
Below are the detailed remarks of her sentence:
