A United Nations judge has been sentenced to over six years in prison for enslaving a young Ugandan woman at her home in Oxfordshire, UK — a shocking case that has drawn global outrage and raised serious questions about abuse of power at the highest levels of justice.
Lydia Mugambe, 50, who was studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford, was found guilty of modern slavery charges in March. On Friday, she was sentenced to six years and four months behind bars by Oxford Crown Court.
Despite her status as a Ugandan High Court judge and international human rights advocate, Mugambe was exposed as having trafficked and exploited the woman, who worked unpaid as a domestic maid and nanny in her Kidlington home.
Judge David Foxton, who handed down the sentence, said Mugambe showed “absolutely no remorse” and even tried to shift blame onto the victim. “This was a clear abuse of power and position,” he said, describing it as a deeply sad case that clashed with Mugambe’s legal credentials and reputation.
This was a clear abuse of power and position
Judge David Foxton
The victim, whose name is withheld for safety reasons, was brought to the UK on a visa fraudulently arranged by Mugambe — under the pretense that she would be working as a paid domestic servant at the residence of Uganda’s then-deputy high commissioner, John Mugerwa, in London. But instead, prosecutors said Mugerwa sponsored the visa knowing full well the woman would be forced to serve Mugambe in her private residence.
The court heard that Mugerwa agreed to the arrangement in exchange for Mugambe’s assistance in a legal case he was facing in Uganda. Mugambe funded the victim’s flight and picked her up from the airport, only to strip her of freedom once she arrived.
The woman said she lived in “almost constant fear,” unable to return home due to Mugambe’s power and influence in Uganda. She fears she may never see her mother again.
Prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC said Mugambe exploited the victim’s vulnerability, manipulated her understanding of her rights, and intentionally deceived her about the nature of the trip to the UK. “There was a significant imbalance of power,” she told the court.
Oxford University has since condemned the judge’s actions, stating it is “appalled” and has launched disciplinary proceedings that could lead to her removal as a student.
Though Mugambe denied all charges and claimed she treated the woman with “love and care,” investigators — and the jury — weren’t convinced. Chief Superintendent Ben Clark of Thames Valley Police said there was “no doubt” she knew what she was doing. “This is a crime that thrives in silence,” he added, praising the victim’s bravery.
Attempts to charge Mugerwa were blocked due to diplomatic immunity, which Uganda declined to waive.
This case highlights the hidden world of modern-day slavery — even in elite academic settings — and shines a light on the way systemic power imbalances can shield perpetrators, even those sworn to uphold the law.