By Manny Ita
Lydia Mugambe, 50, a United Nations judge and a High Court judge in Uganda, has been sentenced to six years and four months of incarceration at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, subsequent to her conviction in March for modern day slavery offenses. The charges stemmed from the discovery by police that Mugambe had compelled a young Ugandan woman to perform unpaid domestic work and childcare duties at her residence while Mugambe was pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Oxford.
During the sentencing, Judge David Foxton stated that the defendant displayed “absolutely no remorse” for her actions and had attempted to “forcibly blame” the victim. Body camera footage from the time of Mugambe’s arrest reportedly captured her asserting, “I even have immunity.”
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Mugambe fraudulently facilitated a visa for the victim, under the pretense that she would be employed as a paid domestic servant at the diplomatic residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner in London. Prosecutors argued that Mr. Mugerwa sponsored the visa with the knowledge that the woman would instead be subjected to servitude by Mugambe. The court was informed that Mugambe allegedly offered Mr. Mugerwa assistance with a separate legal matter in Uganda in exchange for his cooperation.
The trial further established that Mugambe financed the victim’s travel to the United Kingdom and collected her from the airport. However, upon arrival, the young woman was allegedly forced into domestic servitude at Mugambe’s home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
Judge Foxton characterized the case as “very sad,” noting Mugambe’s prior accomplishments in the legal field, including her work related to human rights protection.
A written statement from the victim, read aloud in court by prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC, detailed her experience of living in “almost constant fear” due to Mugambe’s influential position in Uganda. The victim, whose identity is legally protected, expressed her apprehension about returning to Uganda and the possibility of never seeing her mother again.
Ms. Haughey argued that Mugambe exploited the victim’s lack of understanding regarding employment rights and misrepresented the circumstances of her arrival in the UK. She emphasized the “clear and significant imbalance of power within the relationship” between Mugambe and the victim.
The Crown Prosecution Service reportedly authorized police to charge Mr. Mugerwa with conspiracy; however, he possessed diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan Government declined to waive.
Mugambe had denied the allegations of forcing the young Ugandan woman to perform household chores, maintaining that she had “always” treated her with love, care, and patience.
Following the sentencing, Ch Supt Ben Clark of Thames Valley Police stated that there was “no doubt” Mugambe was aware she was committing offenses. He further commented, “Modern slavery is an under reported crime and I hope that the bravery of the victim in this case encourages other victims of modern slavery to come forward.”
A spokesperson for the University of Oxford conveyed the institution’s “appalled” reaction to its student’s criminal actions, adding, “The university is now commencing its own disciplinary process, which has the power to remove students convicted of serious criminal offences.”
