Ugandan Judge, Oxford PhD Student Jailed for Six Years Over Modern Slavery

Oxford, UK – A judge from Uganda and a PhD student at the University of Oxford, Lydia Mugambe, has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison for forcing a young woman into domestic servitude. The 50-year-old, who also held an appointment to a UN war crimes tribunal, was found guilty in March 2025 of modern slavery offenses after exploiting a Ugandan woman as a housekeeper and nanny at her Oxfordshire home.

Prosecutors revealed that Mugambe fraudulently arranged a visa for the victim, stipulating she would work for Uganda's Deputy High Commissioner, John Mugerwa, but instead forced her into unpaid labor. The Crown Prosecution Service noted a "clear and significant imbalance of power" in the relationship, with Mugambe taking advantage of the victim's lack of knowledge about employment rights. Mugerwa, despite being implicated, was not charged due to diplomatic immunity.

Judge David Foxton, in sentencing Mugambe at Oxford Crown Court, highlighted the irony of her legal accomplishments, including work in human rights protection, stating she "showed absolutely no remorse" for her actions. Mugambe, who was studying for a doctorate in law specializing in human rights, denied the charges and claimed diplomatic immunity upon her arrest.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described living in "almost constant fear" due to Mugambe's powerful standing. She expressed concerns about returning to Uganda, fearing repercussions and potentially never seeing her mother again. The University of Oxford stated it was "appalled" by its student's crimes and initiated its own disciplinary process.

Mugambe's appointment to the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in May 2023 occurred three months after police were first called to her address. The UN court has since confirmed it is "discontinuing Judge Mugambe’s participation." This case underscores the hidden nature of modern slavery, even involving individuals in positions of significant legal authority.