It was a quiet cul-de-sac in Kidlington, Oxfordshire—neighbours rarely noticed anything unusual. But behind one of those doors, a woman lived in fear, trapped in domestic servitude by someone with global authority.
Lydia Mugambe, a 50-year-old United Nations judge and sitting High Court justice in Uganda, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison on Friday. She was found guilty of keeping a young Ugandan woman as a domestic slave while studying for a PhD at the University of Oxford.
“You showed absolutely no remorse,” said Judge David Foxton as he handed down the sentence at Oxford Crown Court. “You tried to blame the victim for what happened.”
A Shadow Behind a Prestigious Title
Mugambe’s public life was impressive. As a judge in Uganda, she built a reputation for upholding human rights. She was awarded a place at Oxford to study law at the doctoral level. But behind closed doors, she orchestrated a grim deception.
Prosecutors told the court she arranged a UK visa for the young woman, falsely stating that she would be working as a domestic servant for Uganda’s then-deputy high commissioner, John Mugerwa. In reality, the woman was taken directly from the airport to Mugambe’s home, where she was forced to cook, clean, and care for children—without pay.
In return for his help securing the visa, Mugambe was expected to support Mugerwa with a separate legal case in Uganda, the court heard.
The victim, whose identity is protected, described living in “almost constant fear.” She feared Mugambe’s status in Uganda, saying she could not return home and might never see her mother again.
“I was treated as worthless,” her statement read in court. “She told me I was lucky to be here.”
Abuse of Power
Bodycam footage from police, shown to jurors, captured Mugambe telling officers: “I even have immunity,” as they arrested her.
But her legal standing offered no protection. The jury found her guilty in March of modern slavery offences, a rare conviction at this level of international stature.
The Crown Prosecution Service had authorised charges against Mr Mugerwa for conspiracy, but he was shielded by diplomatic immunity. Uganda declined to waive it.
Chief Superintendent Ben Clark of Thames Valley Police praised the courage of the victim. “There is no doubt Mugambe knew what she was doing,” he said. “This is a deeply under-reported crime. I hope this case encourages others to speak up.”
Shockwaves in Academia and Diplomacy
Oxford University, where Mugambe was a registered student, expressed outrage at the revelations.
“We are appalled by these crimes,” a spokesperson said. “The university will now begin its disciplinary process, which includes the power to expel students convicted of serious offences.”
Though the case has concluded in court, its impact continues to echo far beyond Oxford. It raises uncomfortable questions about how those in positions of influence can conceal abuse—and how difficult it remains for victims of modern slavery to be heard.
As Mugambe begins her sentence, the young woman she exploited faces an uncertain future in a foreign country, far from family and safety. But one thing has changed: her story has finally been believed.
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