UN Judge Jailed for Enslaving Housekeeper in Shocking UK Case
A high-ranking United Nations judge, Lydia Mugambe, has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after being found guilty of multiple modern slavery charges at Oxford Crown Court.
Mugambe, 50, brought a young Ugandan woman to the UK under the pretense of offering her work, only to subject her to forced domestic labor without pay. The victim, whose identity remains protected, served as a maid and childcare provider at Mugambe’s Oxford residence while being denied her rights and freedom.
During sentencing, Mr. Justice Foxton ordered that Mugambe serve half of her term behind bars, with the remainder under supervised release.
The court heard that Mugambe confiscated the victim’s passport and prevented her from seeking lawful employment. The woman testified that promises made to her before leaving Uganda were broken, leaving her feeling helpless and afraid.
“There was no job as she had promised,” the victim said. “She never paid me, and she didn’t let me work elsewhere. I was trapped.”
Authorities intervened in February 2023 after receiving reports of the woman being held in conditions resembling slavery. Mugambe was arrested at her home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
In March 2025, a jury convicted Mugambe on several counts, including facilitating illegal immigration, requiring forced labor, witness intimidation, and arranging travel with intent to exploit.
Prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC described how Mugambe took advantage of the victim’s vulnerability and limited understanding of her rights. “This was exploitation masked as opportunity,” she said.
Chief Superintendent Ben Clark, of Thames Valley Police, emphasized the significance of the case: “Lydia Mugambe, a respected legal figure and judge, knowingly violated the law. Her conviction shows that no one is above accountability.”
He encouraged other victims of modern slavery to come forward, assuring that police are ready to listen and provide help.
