Justice Lydia Mugambe, a judge of the High Court in Uganda specializing in international law, criminal law, international human rights law, intellectual property law, insolvency law and practice, trade and investment law, corporate finance, and commercial, was found guilty 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.
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Prosecutors said Mugambe took “advantage of her status” over her victim in the “most egregious way” by preventing her from holding down steady employment and forcing her to work as her maid and provide childcare for free.
The prosecution told the Oxford Crown Court that Justice Mugambe, while pursuing her PhD at Oxford University, lured the woman with promises of work but instead subjected her to forced labor.
Jurors at Oxford Crown Court were shown police bodycam footage from February 10, 2023, when officers visited Justice Mugambe’s residence in Oxfordshire following reports of a woman being held as a slave.
The footage allegedly showed the woman packing in a bedroom, telling officers she was not allowed to leave until she repaid Justice Mugambe for her travel expenses. The woman, who arrived in the UK in July 2022 on a work visa, expressed her desire to leave Justice Mugambe’s home. Simultaneously, Justice Mugambe was allegedly recorded telling officers the woman was “acting funny” and prioritizing work over childcare.
Ms Caroline Haughey KC, prosecutor, told jurors during the trial: “Lydia Mugambe has exploited and abused (her alleged victim), taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to properly paid employment and deceiving her as to the purpose of her coming to the UK.”
The court heard that Mugambe had engaged in an “illegal folly” with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa, conspiring to arrange for the young woman to come to the UK.
The court heard that Mugambe had engaged in an “illegal folly” with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa, conspiring to arrange for the young woman to come to the UK.
Prosecutors said the duo participated in a “very dishonest” trade-off, with Mr Mugerwa arranging for the Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman’s entrance into the UK in exchange for Mugambe attempting to speak to a judge handling legal action against Mr Mugerwa.
Mugambe’s trial heard that she had the intention of “obtaining someone to make her life easier and at the least possible cost to herself.” The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court she felt “lonely” and “stuck” after her working hours were limited.
Justice Mugambe denied forcing the young woman to do household chores, claiming she “always” treated her with love, care, and patience.
A conviction for modern slavery in the UK carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
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