A UN judge was sentenced to six years and four months in prison for forcing a woman to work as a slave in the family.
Lydia Mugambe, 50, is studying for her PhD in law at Oxford University when police found out she had a young Ugandan woman at home working as an unpaid job as a maid and a nanny.
Mugambe, also a Uganda high court judge, was sentenced to jail at Oxford Crown Court on Friday after being convicted of modern slavery in March.
Judge David Foxton told the defendant in the judgment that she had “absolutely no regrets” about her actions and that she hoped to “force blame” for what happened to the victim.
Mugambe fraudulently arranged a visa for the woman but stipulated that she would pay in the diplomatic residence of former Deputy High Commissioner John Mugerwa, Uganda, to serve as a private servant.
Prosecutors said Mr. Mugwa sponsored the victim’s visa and knew she would actually work for Mugambe.
In return, Mugam will provide him with assistance related to a separate court case in Uganda, the court was informed.
The trial heard Mugam paying for the victim's flight and picked her up from the airport – but then the young woman became a slave at the judge's home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
Mugambe is studying for her PhD at Oxford University [PA Media]
Mr Foxton described it as a “very sad case” as he outlined Mugham’s legal achievements, including her work on protecting human rights.
In a written statement, prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC read to the court, and the victim described a life of “almost ongoing fear” due to Mugambe's strong position in Uganda.
She may never see her mother again because she is worried about what might happen, and the woman who cannot be named for legal reasons said she “can't go back to Uganda”.
Ms. Hoshi said Mugambe took advantage of her lack of knowledge about employment rights and misled her why she came to the UK to exploit victims.
She said there was “a clear and significant imbalance in this relationship” in Mugam’s relationship with the victim.
“Deemed worthless”
The Crown Procuratorate authorized the police to commit conspiracy charges against Mr. Mugwa, but he had diplomatic immunity and the Ugandan government did not give up.
Mugambe denied forcing the young Ugandan woman to do housework and said she “always” treats her with love, care and patience.
Ch Supt Ben Clark of the Thames Valley Police Department said there is no doubt that Mugambe knew she was committing a crime.
“Modern slavery is a reported crime, and I hope the victims' courage in this situation encourages other victims of modern slavery to step up,” he said.
A spokesman for the University of Oxford said the institution was “shocked” by its students’ crimes.
The spokesman added: “The university is now beginning its own disciplinary process, a process that has the power to eliminate students convicted of serious criminal offenses.”
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