Justice Lydia Mugambe Jailed for Modern Slavery in UK
London, UK | May 2, 2025
Ugandan High Court Judge and international tribunal jurist Justice Lydia Mugambe has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison by the Oxford Crown Court in the United Kingdom, following her conviction on multiple modern slavery charges.
The 49-year-old judge was found guilty in March 2025 of trafficking a young Ugandan girl to the UK under false pretenses and exploiting her as an unpaid housemaid. Mugambe, who was in the UK pursuing a PhD at Oxford University, used her diplomatic status to facilitate the girl’s visa.
Fake Job, Real Exploitation
The court heard that Mugambe conspired with former Ugandan Deputy High Commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa, falsifying an employment contract to secure a domestic worker visa for the girl. The document claimed the girl would work for Mugerwa but she was instead made to serve Mugambe in her home, without pay.
Despite promises of a salary and job flexibility, the victim never received payment and had her identification documents withheld, severely limiting her ability to find other work.
Multiple Convictions
The jury found Justice Mugambe guilty of several offenses, including:
- Facilitating illegal immigration
- Human trafficking for exploitation
- Forcing a person into compulsory labor
- Witness intimidation
The UK Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the abuse of judicial authority and diplomatic connections in carrying out the exploitation.
Diplomatic Fallout
The high-profile conviction has sent shockwaves across diplomatic and legal circles in Uganda and the UK. Reports suggest that Kampala and London are exploring a prisoner exchange deal that could see Mugambe deported back to Uganda to serve part of her sentence.
International Scrutiny
Mugambe’s case has cast a spotlight on the exploitation risks faced by migrant domestic workers and raised questions about diplomatic immunity abuses. It also complicates Uganda’s international reputation, given her simultaneous role as a UN tribunal judge.
