Lydia Mugambe: Footage shows UN judge claimed 'immunity' before being convicted of forcing woman to work as slave
Prosecutors said Lydia Mugambe prevented the woman from holding down steady employment and forced her to work as her maid and provide childcare for free.
Thursday 13 March 2025 23:41, UK
A United Nations judge convicted of forcing a young Ugandan woman to work as a slave in Britain told police she had "immunity" and was "not a criminal" when she was arrested, bodycam footage shows.
Lydia Mugambe took "advantage of her status" over her victim in the "most egregious way" and tricked her into coming to the UK, a court heard.
Prosecutors said she prevented the woman from holding down steady employment and forced her to work as her maid and provide childcare for free.
The trial at Oxford Crown Court was told Mugambe, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, had the intention of "obtaining someone to make her life easier and at the least possible cost to herself".
The 49-year-old defendant denied forcing her victim to do household chores and said she "always" treated her with love, care and patience.
'I am a judge in my country'
Mugambe, who was studying for a law PhD at the University of Oxford, appeared shocked when an officer said he was arresting her under the Modern Slavery Act, in footage released by Thames Valley Police.
She then had a conversation with the officer, in which she said: "I am a judge in my country, I even have immunity. I am not a criminal."
Asked to reaffirm she had immunity, Mugambe told the officer: "Yes, I have a diplomatic passport."
The conversation ended with the defendant saying: "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."
Defendant 'exploited and abused' victim
Mugambe 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.
Mugambe was appointed to the United Nations's judicial roster in May 2023, according to her UN profile page. That was three months after police were called to her address in Oxfordshire.
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."
Victim felt 'lonely' and 'stuck'
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court previously that she felt "lonely" and "stuck" after her working hours were limited.
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Also during the trial, Paul Raudnitz KC, defending, asked Mugambe if she arranged the woman's travel intending to exploit her in Britain.
Mugambe said: "I never exploited [the woman] in Uganda, why would I exploit her in the UK?"
Mr Raudnitz also asked Mugambe if the woman ever "worked under a threat of penalty or consequence from you", and the defendant replied "no".
Jurors accepted the prosecution's claim that Mugambe had engaged in "illegal folly" with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa in which they conspired to arrange for the young woman to go to Britain.
The pair took part in a "very dishonest" trade-off, where Mr Mugerwa arranged for the Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman's entrance into the UK in exchange for Mugambe trying to talk to a judge who headed a legal action Mr Mugerwa was named in, according to prosecutors.
Mugambe will be sentenced at the same court on 2 May.