A UK court has convicted High Court Judge Lydia Mugambe of immigration and modern slavery offences after an investigation by Oxford Crown Court.
Mugambe, 49, lived in Kidlington while pursuing a law PhD at Oxford University. A jury unanimously found her guilty of conspiring to breach UK immigration laws, forcing someone into labour, and conspiring to intimidate a witness. A majority verdict also found her guilty of arranging travel for exploitation.
Under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015, offences like forced labour and human trafficking carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC told jurors that Mugambe exploited the victim’s lack of awareness about her employment rights and misled her about the purpose of her travel.
The court heard that Mugambe and Ugandan Deputy High Commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa arranged for a young Ugandan woman to enter the UK under false pretenses. The case began on February 10, 2023, when Thames Valley Police received a report about a woman held as a slave at Mugambe’s home in Kidlington.
Investigators found that Mugambe secured a visa for the victim, claiming she would work for Ambassador Mugerwa. Instead, Mugambe paid for her flight, met her at the airport, and forced her into unpaid domestic work.
While Mugerwa sponsored the victim’s visa as a domestic worker, evidence showed he and Mugambe conspired to exploit her. Their communication revealed Mugerwa knew she would work for Mugambe in exchange for legal assistance in Uganda.
Police investigated Mugerwa’s role, but he avoided charges due to diplomatic immunity, which Uganda refused to waive. He returned to Uganda in August 2023, officially citing the end of his tenure. Sources suggested he was expelled over his involvement in the case.
Mugerwa admitted some responsibility but claimed the victim wanted asylum to stay in the UK.
Initially, Mugambe tried to avoid prosecution by citing diplomatic immunity as a Ugandan High Court Judge and later as a UN Judge. However, the UN waived her immunity, allowing the case to proceed.
Prosecutors described Mugambe and Mugerwa’s actions as a “dishonest trade-off,” where Mugerwa arranged the visa in exchange for Mugambe influencing a judge handling his legal case.
The victim, whose identity remains protected, told the court she felt “lonely” and “stuck” when her work hours were restricted.
Mugambe, denying all allegations, insisted she treated the victim with love and care.
Oxford Crown Court will sentence her on May 2, 2025.
