Prosecutors said Lydia Mugambe, 49, took “advantage of her status” over her victim by preventing her from holding down steady employment and forcing her to work as her maid.
KAMPALA – A Ugandan High Court Judge and a UN Criminal Tribunal Judge has been convicted of immigration and modern slavery offenses in Oxfordshire, following an investigation by Thames Valley Police.
Lydia Mugambe, aged 49, of Lyne Road, Kidlington, was found guilty by a unanimous Oxford Crown Court jury of one count of conspiring to do an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national, one count of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, and one count of conspiracy to intimidate a witness.
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Mugambe was also found guilty by a majority verdict of one count of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.
The investigation began on February 10, 2023, when Thames Valley Police received a report that the victim, a woman, was being held as a slave by Mugambe at her then address in Brasenose Drive, Kidlington.
A protracted and complex investigation ensued, involving multiple partners, during which Thames Valley Police established that Mugambe had obtained a visa for the victim to work in the UK.
However, the terms of this visa were that the victim would be paid to work for the then Deputy High Commissioner at the Ugandan Embassy in London, John Mugerwa. Instead, Mugambe paid for the victim’s plane ticket to the UK, picked her up from the airport, and the victim became Mugambe’s slave, carrying out unpaid work as a domestic maid and nanny.
The prosecution argued that Mugerwa sponsored the victim’s entry into the UK as a domestic worker in his personal household, but under the auspices of the Ugandan High Commission, which he was entitled to do in his diplomatic role. However, Mugambe could not sponsor a visa as she was a student in the UK at the time.
Communications between Mugambe and Mugerwa demonstrated that Mugerwa facilitated the victim’s visa knowing she would work in servitude for Mugambe, and in return, Mugambe would provide assistance in a separate court case in Uganda.
Thames Valley Police investigated Mugerwa’s involvement, but he had diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan Government did not waive, meaning he could not be charged with any offences.
Commander for Oxfordshire, Chief Superintendent Ben Clark, stated, “Lydia Mugambe is an extremely qualified lawyer, a Ugandan High Court Judge and a UN Criminal Tribunal Judge. As such, there is no doubt that she knew she was committing offences by bringing the victim to the UK under the pretence that she was going to work for the then Deputy High Commissioner at the Ugandan Embassy in London.”
“Mugambe used her position of power as well as her knowledge of the law to take advantage of the victim, ensuring that she would become her unpaid domestic servant.”
“After the offences had been reported to the police, Mugambe tried to evade justice by repeatedly claiming she had diplomatic immunity due to her status as a Ugandan High Court Judge and, after her appointment as a United Nations Judge.”
Clark commended the victim’s bravery in coming forward to report the offences and praised the investigation team for their work. He also thanked Justice and Care as well as the National Crime Agency Specialist Witness Team for providing additional support to the victim throughout the process.
Mugambe will be sentenced at the same court on May 2.
