In a shocking case that has rocked the international legal community, Ugandan High Court Judge and UN tribunal official Lydia Mugambe has been convicted in Britain for modern-day slavery after bringing a young woman from Uganda to work as an unpaid domestic servant while she pursued a PhD at Oxford University.
Mugambe, 49, allegedly used her judicial influence and diplomatic connections to deceive the victim, securing a UK visa under false pretenses by claiming she would be employed as a domestic worker for Uganda’s then Deputy High Commissioner, John Leonard Mugerwa.However, once in Britain, the woman was taken to Mugambe’s home, had her passport confiscated and was forced to work without pay as a nanny and housekeeper.
After months of exploitation, the victim bravely sought help from a friend, ultimately leading to police intervention. Mugambe, who was arrested at her home was caught on video telling officers: “I even have immunity, seemingly attempting to use her international status to evade accountability.
Despite her denials, an Oxford Crown Court jury found her guilt on March 13 of multiple charges, including:
-Facilitating illegal immigration
Exploitation through forced labor
-Conspiracy to intimidate a witness
Mugerwa, who was implicated in facilitating the victim’s visa process, was not on trial.
Prosecutors condemned Mugambe’s egregious abuse of power, highlighting how she manipulated her standing as a respected judge and UN official to enslave a vulnerable young woman.
The disgraced judge, who was appointed in 2023 to the UN’s International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, now faces sentencing on May 2. The case raises serious questions about whether figures in international justice are being held to the same standards they are sworn to uphold.Will Mugambe face a harsh penalty, or will her influence protect her from the full weight of the law?
