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A United Nations judge has been sentenced to six years and four months in a UK prison after being convicted of modern slavery offences involving the exploitation of a young woman she brought to Britain.
Lydia Mugambe, a 50-year-old Ugandan national who also serves as a High Court judge in Uganda, was found guilty by a jury at Oxford Crown Court of multiple charges, including conspiracy to breach UK immigration laws, facilitating travel for exploitation, forced labour, and attempting to intimidate a witness.
The court heard that Mugambe, who had been studying law at Oxford University at the time, abused her legal status and influence by forcing the victim to work as a domestic maid and childcare provider without pay. She also prevented the woman from taking legitimate employment.
Sentencing her, Judge David Foxton acknowledged Mugambe’s otherwise notable legal career but described the case as “a very sad one.” He said Mugambe had acted with “illegal folly” in orchestrating the victim’s travel to the UK under false pretences, then exploiting her once she arrived.
During the trial, the court was told that Mugambe had also tried to pressure the victim into withdrawing the case. In a statement read during proceedings, the victim said she lived in “almost constant fear” due to Mugambe’s influence and standing in their native Uganda.
