A United Nations judge, Lydia Mugambe, has been accused of manipulating a young Ugandan woman into coming to the UK under false pretenses, where she was allegedly exploited as a domestic servant while studying at the University of Oxford.
In a high-profile trial, prosecutors allege that Mugambe, who also holds a position as a High Court judge in Uganda, took advantage of her legal and diplomatic status to deceive the victim into becoming her unpaid maid and childcare provider.
The woman, whose identity is not disclosed, is said to have been brought to the UK under the belief that she would have the opportunity to pursue steady employment while studying.
Instead, prosecutors claim that Mugambe subjected her to exploitative labor, preventing her from earning a living and making her work long hours without compensation.
The young woman was allegedly forced to carry out household chores and childcare duties, which were not part of the original agreement for her stay in the UK.
The charges against Mugambe outline a deliberate course of action that began when she and Ugandan Deputy High Commissioner, John Leonard Mugerwa, allegedly colluded to bring the young woman to the UK.
The prosecution claims that Mugambe used her power, both as a judge and through her connections within the Ugandan diplomatic community, to orchestrate the victim’s travel under false pretenses.
Mugerwa is accused of helping to facilitate the woman’s sponsorship by the Ugandan High Commission in exchange for Mugambe attempting to intervene in a legal case in which Mugerwa was involved.
The prosecution asserts that Mugambe’s motive was to secure free labor, with the victim being forced into a situation where she could neither support herself financially nor have the opportunity to build a stable future.
It is further claimed that Mugambe’s actions were motivated by her desire to ease her own personal and professional life at the victim’s expense.
According to Caroline Haughey KC, who opened the case, Mugambe exploited the young woman’s naivety, luring her to the UK under the guise of an opportunity for personal growth, only to use her for unpaid labor.
In addition to the allegations of exploitation, Mugambe is accused of attempting to intimidate the alleged victim into abandoning legal action against her.
Prosecutors claim that Mugambe used her status as a judge to pressure the woman, suggesting that her diplomatic immunity would protect her from arrest and prosecution.
However, the jury was informed that when the Metropolitan Police’s diplomatic team was contacted, they confirmed that Mugambe was not entitled to diplomatic immunity in the UK, contradicting her claims of protection due to her role with the UN and the Ugandan judiciary.
The defendant’s ties to the United Nations have also come under scrutiny.
Although Mugambe was not granted immunity, her appointment to the UN’s judicial roster in May 2023, three months after police were called to her Oxfordshire residence, has raised questions about whether her international status influenced the course of the case.
In court, Caroline Haughey KC emphasized that Mugambe’s conduct represented an abuse of power, stating that she took advantage of her status over (her alleged victim) in a most egregious way.
Haughey explained that the defendant used her position, influence, and legal knowledge to manipulate the young woman into traveling to the UK under false expectations.
Once in the UK, Mugambe allegedly trapped the woman in a situation where she had no choice but to work without pay, deprived of the opportunity to pursue her own professional or educational goals.
The trial, which is expected to last for three weeks, continues to unfold at Oxford Crown Court.
If convicted, Mugambe could face significant legal consequences, with her actions being seen as an exploitation of both her legal knowledge and her position within the Ugandan and international judicial systems.
The case has sparked outrage, with many questioning how a person in such a powerful position could manipulate a vulnerable individual in this way.
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