Lydia Mugambe, a 49-year-old Ugandan judge who worked with the United Nations, has been found guilty of modern slavery in the UK. The court ruled that she exploited a woman, forcing her to work without pay. Her family, however, argues that cultural differences led to the conviction.
Mugambe was arrested last year in Oxfordshire, where she was studying for a PhD in law at Oxford University. Authorities were alerted after the victim confided in a friend, who then reported the case to the police.
During her arrest, Mugambe denied the accusations, claiming the woman willingly worked for her. She told officers, “I am a judge in my country. I have diplomatic immunity. I am not a criminal.” However, the court found her guilty of several charges, including facilitating illegal travel for exploitation and forcing someone to work.
A close family member in Uganda defended Mugambe, saying cultural differences played a role in the case. They explained that in African culture, multiple generations live together, and helping out in the household is normal.
The relative also claimed that Mugambe had known the victim for 17 years. She allegedly took the woman off the streets, gave her a home, and even paid for her education. According to the family, the victim later accused Mugambe of slavery to gain asylum in the UK.
Prosecutors argued that Mugambe misled the victim about the purpose of her travel to the UK. Instead of education or employment, she was made to work as a housemaid without pay. The victim said she felt “lonely” and “stuck” after her working hours were controlled.
Mugambe allegedly worked with Ugandan diplomat John Leonard Mugerwa to arrange the victim’s travel through the Ugandan High Commission. Prosecutors called it a “dishonest trade-off” to bring the victim to the UK under false pretenses.
The jury agreed with the prosecution, ruling that Mugambe exploited the victim for personal gain. The court heard that the judge took advantage of her power, restricting the victim’s freedom and threatening to send her back to Uganda if she did not comply.
Despite the guilty verdict, Mugambe’s family insists she is innocent. They argue that she has always been a humanitarian who helps people and that the court misunderstood their cultural background.
The case has sparked debate about cultural differences and how they impact legal decisions in different countries.
