UN Judge Mugambe Jailed for Forced Labour in UK

Lydia Mugambe, a United Nations and Ugandan High Court judge, has been sentenced to six years and four months in a British prison for forcing a young Ugandan woman to work without pay as a maid and nanny while Mugambe pursued a PhD at Oxford University. Mugambe deceived the victim into coming to the UK by falsely promising employment with the Ugandan High Commission, then exploited her by confiscating her passport and phone and subjecting her to unpaid domestic labor. She was convicted of multiple offenses, including breaches of UK immigration law, facilitating travel for exploitation, forced labor, and conspiring to intimidate a witness. Prosecutors said Mugambe conspired with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa in a dishonest arrangement to secure the victim's visa and later tried to pressure the victim to withdraw the case. Mugambe showed no remorse and claimed immunity when arrested, blaming the victim for her predicament. The victim has since been granted asylum in the UK due to fears of persecution if she returns to Uganda.