A United Nations judge is facing serious charges of trafficking a young woman to the UK and exploiting her as a domestic servant. Lydia Mugambe, who also serves as a High Court judge in Uganda, has been accused of deceiving the Ugandan woman into traveling to the UK under false pretenses, with prosecutors alleging she used her status to make the woman work as her maid and provide childcare without pay.
The court heard that Mugambe took advantage of her position as a judge and her influence over the victim, who had come to the UK to study for a PhD at the University of Oxford. The 49-year-old allegedly prevented the woman from seeking stable employment and forced her to work without remuneration, as part of an arrangement that prosecutors claim was designed to ease Mugambe’s life at little financial cost to herself.
Lydia Mugambe’s actions were described by prosecutors as a gross abuse of her power. They also allege that when the young woman questioned her authority and attempted to reclaim her personal identification documents, she was threatened with being sent back to
Uganda. In a chilling attempt to silence the victim, Mugambe reportedly reached out to an alleged co-conspirator, who was contacted to tell the victim’s pastor that the police would be unable to act if the woman dropped the case.
During the trial, it was revealed that Mugambe claimed diplomatic immunity to avoid arrest, but the police confirmed that no such immunity was registered for her in the UK. The case has brought into question the extent of power and control that high-profile figures like Mugambe can wield to exploit vulnerable individuals.
The trial is ongoing, with Lydia Mugambe denying all charges, which include human trafficking, intimidation, and exploitation. If convicted, she faces significant legal repercussions. The case is expected to last for three weeks, and the court will examine further evidence to determine her guilt or innocence.
