A United Nations judge studying for a DPhil at Oxford University has been found guilty of modern slavery, witness intimidation, and immigration offences at Oxford Crown Court. The prosecutors alleged that Lydia Mugambe, who also served as a High Court judge in Uganda, held her victim as a slave in Brasenose Drive, Kidlington, just a few miles north of the city centre.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, worked as an unpaid maid and nanny whilst Mugambe studied for a DPhil in law at Pembroke College. In the College’s 2021 MCR Freshers’ Guide, when asked what advice she would give to new students, Mugambe said that they should “live in the moment”.
The jury heard evidence that the victim worked from 5am to 10pm doing school runs, making dinner, and putting Mugambe’s children to bed without compensation, as Mugambe kept her passport to prevent her from leaving the UK. It was also alleged that Mugambe pressured the victim into dropping the charges against her.
According to the evidence, the then Ugandan Deputy High Commissioner, John Mugerwa, sponsored a visa for the victim to work at the embassy, which he was entitled to do as a diplomat, after agreeing with Mugambe that she would work for the judge as a slave instead. In return, Mugambe agreed to use her influence to assist Mugerwa with legal troubles back home.
The jury unanimously convicted Mugambe of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national, requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness.
An investigation was also launched against Mugerwa. However, he could not be charged, as the Uganda government refused to waive diplomatic immunity, which protects him from criminal proceedings in the UK.
Mugambe has served as a judge for the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals since 1st July 2024. The Mechanism serves residual functions for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, including conducting investigations and prosecutions against war criminals who were not apprehended during the existence of those tribunals. Mugambe’s term is scheduled to last until 30th June 2026.
During the arrest, Mugambe repeatedly claimed that she too holds diplomatic immunity by virtue of her appointment to the Mechanism. According to Thames Valley Police, any immunity was waived by the Office of the United Nations Secretary General.
Mugambe matriculated in 2020 to read for a DPhil in law at Pembroke, where she served as treasurer of the College’s Middle Common Room. Whilst she was a student, Mugambe was also involved with the Oxford Human Rights Hub, whose mission is to “strengthen and develop international human rights law through the exchange of knowledge and best practice”.
Reacting to the news, one current Pembroke student told Cherwell that he was left “shocked and surprised”, adding that it was “completely unexpected” something like this could happen at Oxford.
Commander for Oxfordshire, Chief Superintendent Ben Clark said: “Lydia Mugambe is an extremely qualified lawyer, a Ugandan High Court Judge and a UN Criminal Tribunal Judge.
“Mugambe used her position of power as well as her knowledge of the law to take advantage of the victim, ensuring that she would become her unpaid domestic servant.
“I want to appeal to anyone who is a victim of modern slavery or suspects that modern slavery is being committed to contact Thames Valley Police. We will listen and we will help you.”
