UN Judge Lydia Mugambe Sentenced to Over Six Years Imprisonment for Forcing Woman into Slavery

In a shocking turn of events, Lydia Mugambe, a former UN judge, has been slapped with a prison sentence of six years and four months for enslaving a young Ugandan woman in Britain.

This unsavory episode unfolded after Mugambe, a 50-year-old High Court judge in Uganda who was pursuing a law PhD at the University of Oxford, was found guilty of conspiring to breach UK immigration laws, forcing someone to work, and conspiring to intimidate a witness. The trial took place at Oxford Crown Court.

The harrowing details paint a picture of Mugambe exploiting her position and deceitfully manipulating her victim, who is legally protected, into working as her maid and providing free childcare, while preventing her from securing steady employment.

During the trial, it was revealed that Mugambe took advantage of her status in the most reprehensible manner and tricked her victim into coming to the UK. The court was privy to footage of Mugambe casually stating she had "immunity" and was "not a criminal" when she was arrested by Thames Valley Police, adding that she came to the UK with student status and didn't need anyone to work for her.

Mugambe's UN profile indicates that she was appointed to the UN's judicial roster in May 2023, mere months after police were summoned to her Oxfordshire abode.

Caroline Haughey KC, representing the prosecution, stated in court, "Lydia Mugambe has exploited and abused [the woman], taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to proper employment and deceiving her as to the purpose of her coming to the UK."

The court deemed that Mugambe intended to "obtain someone to make her life easier and at the least possible cost to herself." She conspired with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa to bring the young woman to the UK, engaging in a very dishonest trade-off. In this arrangement, Mugerwa arranged for the Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman's entry into the UK, with Mugambe attempting to influence a judge heading a legal action Mugerwa was embroiled in, according to prosecutors.

However, Mugambe steadfastly denied forcing the young woman to perform household chores, claiming she always treated her with love, care, and patience. The victim, on the other hand, recounted feelings of loneliness and being trapped after her working hours were limited.

In March 2025, Mugambe was convicted of conspiring to facilitate immigration law breaches, forced labor under the Modern Slavery Act, and witness intimidation conspiracy. On May 2, 2025, she was sentenced to six years and four months in prison at Oxford Crown Court, with the court highlighting her abuse of status and the "egregious" nature of her exploitation of the victim's vulnerability.

Despite her appointment to the UN's judicial roster in May 2023, Lydia Mugambe, a Ugandan High Court judge and UN judge, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison for enslaving a Ugandan woman in Britain, involving crimes such as breaching UK immigration laws, forcing someone to work, and witness intimidation.
The trial, which took place at Oxford Crown Court, revealed that Mugambe deceptively manipulated her victim into working as her maid and providing free childcare, exploiting her vulnerable position for her own benefit.
Caroline Haughey KC, representing the prosecution, declared in court that Mugambe had exploited and abused the victim, taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to proper employment and deceiving her as to the purpose of her coming to the UK.
The court further determined that Mugambe, in a dishonest trade-off, conspired with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa to bring the young woman to the UK, with Mugambe attempting to influence a judge heading a legal action Mugerwa was embroiled in.