Lydia Mugambe, a United Nations judge and Ugandan High Court official, has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after being convicted of keeping a young Ugandan woman as a domestic slave in the United Kingdom.
Mugambe, 50, was pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when authorities discovered the victim working without pay at her Oxfordshire home as a maid and nanny. The woman was forced into servitude after Mugambe arranged for her fraudulent visa, falsely promising employment as a paid servant at the London residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner.
Instead, the victim was taken to Mugambe’s home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, where she endured exploitation. Prosecutors revealed that Mugambe and Mugerwa had entered a mutual arrangement: Mugerwa sponsored the victim’s visa in exchange for Mugambe’s legal assistance in a separate case in Uganda. While Mugerwa faced charges of conspiracy, diplomatic immunity prevented his prosecution.
Judge David Foxton, during sentencing at Oxford Crown Court, condemned Mugambe for showing “absolutely no remorse” and attempting to blame the victim for her plight. He expressed sadness over the case, particularly given Mugambe’s previous work in human rights law.
The victim, whose identity remains confidential, described her experience as one of “almost constant fear,” citing the power imbalance due to Mugambe’s political influence. The victim also expressed anxiety about returning to Uganda, fearing she would never see her mother again.
Thames Valley Police praised the victim for her courage, with Chief Superintendent Ben Clark emphasizing the hidden nature of modern slavery and urging other victims to come forward.
A University of Oxford spokesperson condemned the case, stating the institution was “appalled” and had initiated disciplinary proceedings that could result in Mugambe’s removal from the university.
Comments