The Oxford Crown Court is set to sentence Ugandan High Court Judge Lydia Mugambe today, following her March 13 conviction on multiple charges related to modern slavery and immigration violations.
Mugambe, 49, was found guilty of conspiring to violate UK immigration laws, arranging travel for the purpose of exploitation, forcing someone into unpaid labour, and attempting to intimidate a witness.
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The charges stem from her treatment of a young Ugandan woman whom she brought to the UK under false pretenses while pursuing her PhD at Oxford University. Mugambe and former Ugandan Deputy High Commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa had fraudulently arranged a visa for the woman, claiming she would be working at the Ugandan diplomatic mission.
However, upon arrival in the UK, the victim was taken to Mugambe’s home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, where she was forced to work as a domestic servant and nanny without pay or freedom to communicate with others.
The woman, described in court as vulnerable and unaware of her rights, eventually managed to alert a friend using a borrowed phone, which triggered an investigation by Thames Valley Police.
Prosecutors said Mugambe colluded with Mugerwa to exploit the woman, using their legal and diplomatic positions to facilitate her forced labour. Text messages revealed that Mugerwa arranged the visa in exchange for Mugambe’s assistance in a personal legal matter in Uganda.
Mugerwa, shielded from prosecution due to diplomatic immunity, later returned to Uganda amid the scandal. He acknowledged his role in the visa sponsorship but accused the victim of fabricating her claims to seek asylum in the UK.
Mugambe initially tried to avoid prosecution by citing diplomatic immunity through her roles as a Ugandan judge and later as a UN tribunal official. However, the United Nations waived any protection, allowing the UK to proceed with the case.
Throughout the trial, Mugambe denied wrongdoing, claiming she treated the woman with kindness. But the jury found her actions exploitative and intentional, concluding she sought to benefit from the woman’s labor while minimizing her own expenses.
The case has sparked debate in Uganda, raising concerns over how government officials may have enabled or overlooked abuse. It also reignited discussions around a recent statement by Justice Minister Norbert Mao, who mentioned a UK-Uganda prisoner exchange agreement, leading to speculation about Mugambe’s potential return.
If given a custodial sentence, Mugambe could face several years in prison under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act, which allows life imprisonment for severe human trafficking and forced labor offenses.
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