UN judge sentenced to over six years in jail for forcing young woman to work as her slave in Oxford
Lydia Mugambe brought the victim to the UK under the pretence that they would work for the then Deputy High Commissioner at the Ugandan High Commission in London
Last updated 2nd May 2025
A Ugandan High Court Judge and a United Nations Criminal Tribunal Judge has been sentenced to six years and four months for immigration and modern slavery offences in Oxfordshire.
She must also pay more than £12,000 compensation.
Following a trial which took place in February and March this year, a jury found Lydia Mugambe, aged 50, of Lyne Road, Kidlington, guilty 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;
· One count of conspiracy to intimidate a witness;
· One count of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.
On 10 February 2023, Thames Valley Police received a report that the victim in this case, a woman, was being held as a slave by Mugambe at her then address in Brasenose Drive, Kidlington.
An investigation, with a number authorities, was then launched, 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.
Mugambe paid for the victim’s plane ticket to the UK, picked her up from the airport, and thereafter the victim became Mugambe’s slave, carrying out unpaid work as a domestic maid and nanny.
It was the prosecution’s case 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 in his diplomatic role, he was entitled to do, whereas Mugambe could not sponsor a visa as she was a student in the UK at that time.
The prosecution argued that communications between Mugambe and Mugerwa demonstrated that Mugerwa facilitated the victim’s visa in the knowledge she would actually work in servitude for Mugambe, and in return that Mugambe would provide him assistance in relation to a separate court case in Uganda.
Thames Valley Police investigated Mugerwa’s involvement in its case, relating to immigration offence only. The Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge in respect of conspiracy for Mugerwa, but he had diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan Government did not waive, meaning he could not be charged with any offences.
The victim, who has anonymity for life, said: “My existence to Lydia was not important.
“At first, life was not bad. Lydia promised me things, and I believed her.
“But in a short time, things changed and she did not do as she had promised.
“It made me feel unhappy, as I couldn’t speak to her as I feared her.
“Even after the police had visited her house on first occasion, Lydia told me she had the authority and that she would burn my passport and bank card. She also said she would call the police because I was in the UK illegally.
“I was fearful and worried. I was asking for god to help me.
“I should have been treated humanely, not treated as useless or worthless.
“I now find it extremely difficult to introduce myself to people. If anyone asks me questions, I will very weary.
“I’m hoping for good things in the future. Everyone in the UK has freedom to speak and people are respected.”
In a statement read outside court today, the lead investigator for this case, Detective Inspector James Holden-White said:
"Lydia Mugambe is a UN Criminal Tribunal Judge and a Ugandan High Court Judge.
She knew she was committing offences by bringing the victim to the UK under the pretence that the victim was going to work for the then Deputy High Commissioner at the Ugandan High Commission in London. This provided the victim a legal route of entry to the UK which would otherwise not have been available. Mugambe intended all along to make the victim work for her instead, and she went on to hold the victim in servitude, much of the time in plain sight.
Mugambe used her position of power as well as her knowledge of the law to take advantage of the victim, and subsequently tried to assert that her judicial positions afforded her immunity from prosecution.
Trafficking and exploitation of another human being, be it for forced labour, criminal enterprise, sexual exploitation or by holding a person in domestic servitude is a deplorable crime.
This case demonstrates that no-one is above the law and that we will investigate reports and strive to bring perpetrators to justice.
I want to commend the victim for her bravery in remaining engaged with a protracted police investigation. This was especially difficult for her due to the background and power imbalance between Mugambe and herself. The whole investigation team wish the victim the best for her future.
I want to appeal to anyone who is a victim of a modern slavery offence or has information about exploited persons to contact the police - via our website or by calling 101 - or the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline - part of the antI-slavery charity Unseen - via their website or by calling 08000 121700."
Commander for Oxfordshire, Chief Superintendent Ben Clark said: “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.
“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.
“If you are a victim or have information about modern slavery then please contact Thames Valley Police. We will listen and we will help you.
“You can contact us by visiting a police station, leaving details via our website or by calling 101.”