A United Nations judge has been jailed after she forced a young woman to work for her as a slave in Britain.
Lydia Mugambe, 50, was found to have taken “advantage of her status” over the Ugandan woman in the “most egregious way” by forcing her to work as her maid and provide childcare
The 50-year-old, who was studying for a PhD in law at Oxford University at the time, stopped the woman from holding down steady employment so she could work for her.
Mugambe, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, has been jailed for six years.
Lydia Mugambe, 50, was found to have taken 'advantage of her status' over the Ugandan woman
Thames Valley Police
She was found guilty of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness after a trial at Oxford Crown Court.
Jurors were also shown footage of the 50-year-old telling officers upon her arrest that she had “immunity”.
“I am a judge in my country, I even have immunity. I am not a criminal,” she told a Thames Valley Police officer.
Following her arrest, the police force released footage of her arrest at her home in Oxfordshire.
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Following her arrest, the police force released footage of her arrest at her home in OxfordshireThames Valley PoliceAfter she claimed she had immunity from prosecution, she told the officer: “Yes, I have a diplomatic passport.”
Mugambe later said: “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, she asked me.”
Caroline Haughey KC, for the prosecution, said in court: “Lydia Mugambe has exploited and abused [the woman], taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to properly paid employment and deceiving her as to the purpose of her coming to the UK.”
She claimed she had immunity from prosecutionThames Valley PoliceThe court was also told that Mugambe had engaged in “illegal folly” with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa.
The pair participated in a “very dishonest” trade-off, which saw Mugerwa arrange for the woman’s sponsorship, the court heard.
In return, the 49-year-old would try to speak to a judge who was in charge of legal action that the deputy high commissioner was named in.
