A Ugandan High Court judge and United Nations tribunal member, Lydia Mugambe, has been convicted of multiple modern slavery offenses in the United Kingdom.
Mugambe, 49, was found guilty of forcing a young Ugandan woman to work as a domestic servant and provide childcare for free while preventing her from seeking paid employment.
She was convicted of conspiring to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel for exploitation, forcing someone to work, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness.
She is set to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on May 2.
During her arrest, captured in footage released by Thames Valley Police, Mugambe expressed shock and insisted she had diplomatic immunity.
“I am a judge in my country, I even have immunity. I am not a criminal,” she told the arresting officer. She further claimed: “I came here as a student, I don’t need anyone to work for me. I didn’t come with her, she asked me because she has worked at my home before.”
Gasps were heard in the courtroom as the verdict was announced, and proceedings were briefly halted when Mugambe appeared unwell.
Prosecutors said Mugambe exploited her victim’s lack of understanding of UK employment rights and deceived her about the purpose of coming to the country.
The court heard that Mugambe, who was studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford, had conspired with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa to arrange for the woman’s travel to the UK.
The prosecution alleged that the arrangement involved a “dishonest trade-off” in which Mugerwa facilitated the victim’s UK entry in exchange for Mugambe attempting to influence a legal case involving him.
Mugambe was also convicted of conspiring to intimidate the victim into withdrawing her support for the prosecution in an effort to have the charges dismissed.
Despite her claims of diplomatic immunity, UK authorities confirmed that any such protection was waived by the United Nations Secretary-General.
Thames Valley Police described her as a highly qualified lawyer who “tried to evade justice” by repeatedly citing her judicial status.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, previously testified that she felt “lonely” and “stuck” after realizing her working hours were restricted and she had little control over her situation.
Mugambe’s conviction marks a significant ruling in a case of modern slavery involving a high-ranking judicial figure.
