Ugandan and UN Judge Lydia Mugambe Sentenced to Over Six Years for Domestic Slavery in the UK


Ugandan judge and United Nations official, Lydia Mugambe, 50
Ugandan judge and United Nations official, Lydia Mugambe, 50

A prominent Ugandan judge and United Nations official, Lydia Mugambe, 50, has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison for exploiting a Ugandan woman as a domestic slave while living in the UK.

The sentencing, handed down on Friday at Oxford Crown Court, followed Mugambe’s conviction in March for modern slavery offences. At the time of the abuse, Mugambe was pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Oxford.

Authorities discovered that a young Ugandan woman was living in Mugambe’s home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, where she worked without pay as a maid and nanny. Investigators revealed that the victim was subjected to long hours of unpaid labor under coercive conditions.

Judge David Foxton, presiding over the case, said Mugambe showed “absolutely no remorse” and instead sought to “blame the victim” for her circumstances. Despite Mugambe’s background as a human rights advocate and a sitting High Court judge in Uganda, the court found her actions deeply contradictory to the principles she once upheld.

The victim had entered the UK on a visa fraudulently arranged by Mugambe. The documents falsely indicated that she would be employed at the residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner in London. Prosecutors argued that this arrangement was a cover-up, with Mugerwa knowingly sponsoring the visa in exchange for legal assistance from Mugambe in an unrelated court matter in Uganda.

The victim, whose identity remains protected, described living in “almost constant fear” due to Mugambe’s influential status back home. In a statement read in court by prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC, the woman expressed her deep trauma and fear of returning to Uganda, stating she may never reunite with her mother again.

Ms Haughey also emphasized that Mugambe had manipulated the woman’s lack of understanding of UK employment laws and misled her about the nature of her trip to the UK.

“There was a clear and significant imbalance of power,” Haughey said, adding that the victim had been deceived and exploited from the start.

Judge Foxton called the case a “very sad one,” especially considering Mugambe’s past legal achievements and involvement in human rights work. However, he noted that such accomplishments did not excuse the serious abuse of power that took place.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Sport News

CELEB STORIES
Namibia’s Selma Kamanya Shines Bright at Miss World 2025
TUWMay 31, 2025
Selma Kamanya - The Updated World

Opal Suchata of Thailand was crowned Miss World 2025 at a glittering grand finale held at the HITEX Exhibition Centre…

Namibia’s Selma Kamanya Wins Top Model Africa at Miss World 2025
TUWMay 25, 2025
Namibia’s Selma Kamanya Wins Top Model Africa at Miss World 2025 - The Updated World

Selma Kamanya from Namibia has proudly won the Top Model Africa title at the 72nd Miss World pageant, currently taking…

Chris Brown Released on £5 Million Bail Following Assault Allegation in UK
TUWMay 23, 2025
Chris Brown

Grammy Award-winning singer Chris Brown has been released from custody in the United Kingdom after posting a £5 million bail…

Miss World Namibia Selma Kamanya Advances to Final Round of Head-to-Head Challenge in India
TUWMay 23, 2025
Selma Kamanya - The Updated World

Namibia’s pride, Selma Kamanya, has made a significant leap forward at the Miss World 2025 competition, advancing to the final…


HEALTH TOPICS
Namibian Health Minister Appointed Chairperson at World Health Assembly, While Questions Are Raised Over Malaria Medicine Deal at home
TUWMay 19, 2025
Dr. Esperance Luvindao - The Updated World

Namibia’s Minister of Health and Social Services, Hon. Dr. Esperance Luvindao, has been chosen to lead Committee A at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA)…

What is Hepatitis A, causes, and treatments
Karrel HamutenyaMay 18, 2025
hepatitis A - The Updated World

Hepatitis A is a short-term infection of the liver caused by the Hepatitis A virus. This virus is classified as an RNA virus and does…

Dr. Esperance Luvindao, has called on private companies to join hands with the government to help improve health services
TUWMay 13, 2025
Dr Esperance Luvindao - The Updated World

Namibia’s Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Esperance Luvindao, has called on private companies to join hands with the government to help improve health…

Three Powerful Herbal Alternatives to Supplements for Cold Weather
Karrel HamutenyaMay 12, 2025
Herbs for Winter - The Updated World

As the cold season settles across Namibia, it brings a wave of familiar health concerns coughs, sore throats, chest congestion, joint pain, and general fatigue.…

Africa