Oxford Crown Court in the United Kingdom heard that a now United Nations judge deceived a young woman into coming to the UK to work as her slave while she studied at the University of Oxford.
Lydia Mugambe is accused of taking “advantage of her status” over her alleged victim in the “most egregious way.”.
Ms. Mugambe denies the four charges against her.
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Prosecutors alleged that Ms. Mugambe, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, had the intention of “obtaining someone to make her life easier and at the least possible cost to herself.”
Thus she prevented the young Ugandan woman from holding down steady employment and forced her to work as her maid and to provide childcare for free.
In conjunction and collusion with the Ugandan deputy high commissioner, John Leonard Mugerwa, they allegedly conspired to arrange for the young woman to come to the UK, engaging in “illegal folly.”.
The pair are alleged to have participated in a “very dishonest” trade-off, in which Mr Mugerwa allegedly arranged for the Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman’s entrance into the UK in exchange for Ms Mugambe attempting to speak to a judge who was in charge of legal action Mr Mugerwa was named in.
Ms. Mugambe is also accused of arranging the alleged victim’s travel “with a view to her being exploited” and of attempting to “intimidate” her alleged victim into dropping the case.
Oxford Crown Court heard the defendant had previously told police she had “diplomatic immunity” and could not be arrested due to her work as a judge in Uganda and at the UN.
Jurors were told the Metropolitan Police’s diplomatic team was contacted and confirmed Mugambe had no registered diplomatic immunity in the UK.
Her UN profile page disclosed that Ms. Mugambe was appointed to the body’s judicial roster in May 2023—three months after police were called to her address in Oxfordshire.
Opening the case on Monday, Caroline Haughey KC said, “Ms. Mugambe used her knowledge and her power to deceive [her alleged victim] into coming to the UK, taking advantage of her naivety to induce and deceive her into working for her for nothing.”
She added that the judge, who had been studying for a PhD in law, had “created a situation where [her alleged victim] was deprived of the opportunity to support herself.”.
An October 22, 2024 report from Thames Valley Police identifies Mugambe, 49, as residing on Lyne Road, Kidlington, and having been charged with three serious offenses: conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national, arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with the intent to exploit, and requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labor.
The Modern Slavery Act, which came into force in 2015, is one of the most stringent anti-slavery laws globally. It defines modern slavery to include forced labor, domestic servitude, and other forms of exploitation, with severe penalties for those found guilty. Under this law, anyone convicted of human trafficking or forced labor faces up to life imprisonment. The Act also emphasizes restitution for victims, including compensation for lost wages and other damages suffered due to exploitation.
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