A British jury has found a judge from the United Nations guilty of enslaving a young woman from Uganda by deceiving her into coming to the UK under false pretenses. The judge, Lydia Mugambe, allegedly held the woman in servitude, making her perform domestic duties and child care without any compensation.
Mugambe, who serves as a high court judge in Uganda, was studying for a law doctorate at the University of Oxford when the crimes occurred. During the trial, Caroline Haughey, a lawyer for the prosecution, described how Mugambe “exploited and abused” the young woman, misleading her about life in the UK and manipulating her due to her ignorance of her rights.
The accused, Mugambe, aged 49, denied all charges against her. Nevertheless, the jury at Oxford Crown Court found her guilty of all four charges presented, which included an immigration violation, forcing labor, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness. The moment the guilty verdict was announced, there was an audible reaction from the courtroom’s public gallery, and the proceedings were temporarily halted when Mugambe appeared to be in distress. Her sentencing is scheduled for May 2.
According to her profile on the United Nations’ official website, Mugambe was appointed to serve on one of the organization’s international courts as of May 2023.
