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Friday, Feb 21, 2025
Outside the box.
UN Judge Accused of Human Trafficking in Oxford Court Case
Lydia Mugambe faces allegations of exploiting her status to traffic a young Ugandan woman for domestic servitude in the UK.
Lydia Mugambe, a judge on the United Nations criminal tribunal's judicial roster and a High Court judge in Uganda, is facing serious allegations of human trafficking in a trial currently underway in Oxford Crown Court.
Prosecutors accuse Mugambe of deceiving a young Ugandan woman into coming to the United Kingdom under false pretenses, wherein she allegedly coerced her into carrying out domestic work without compensation, while Mugambe was pursuing a PhD at the University of Oxford.
The case, brought to light on February 18, 2025, describes Mugambe as having taken "advantage of her status" as a judge and an authority figure over her alleged victim.
It is reported that she prevented the woman from seeking steady employment and forced her to perform duties including cleaning and childcare without pay.
The prosecution alleges that Mugambe had the intention of making her own life easier at minimal cost.
Evidence presented in court suggests that Mugambe threatened her alleged victim with deportation back to Uganda when the victim began questioning her authority.
In a message to an alleged accomplice, Mugambe purportedly indicated that if the young woman retracted her interest in the case, it would effectively nullify the police's ability to proceed against her.
Furthermore, during police questioning, Mugambe asserted that she possessed "diplomatic immunity" due to her position as a judge.
However, inquiries made by the Metropolitan Police's diplomatic team revealed that she did not have any registered diplomatic immunity in the UK, impacting her legal standing in the ongoing investigation.
The prosecution also alleges that Mugambe conspired with John Leonard Mugerwa, a deputy high commissioner for Uganda, to arrange the victim's entry into the UK under dubious circumstances, including accusations of a "dishonest" trade-off to facilitate the arrangement.
This conspiracy reportedly included arrangements by Mugerwa for the Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman's travel to the UK, with Mugambe's exploitation of the individual as the intended outcome.
Mugambe's official UN profile indicates that she was appointed to the tribunal’s judicial roster in May 2023, just three months prior to police intervention at her residence in Oxfordshire.
Opening the prosecution's case, Caroline Haughey KC noted the significant responsibilities vested in judges, highlighting the expectation that they uphold the law and protect the rights of others.
The charges against Mugambe include human trafficking and related offenses.
She has entered a plea of not guilty for all four charges leveled against her, with the trial anticipated to last for three weeks.
Prosecutors accuse Mugambe of deceiving a young Ugandan woman into coming to the United Kingdom under false pretenses, wherein she allegedly coerced her into carrying out domestic work without compensation, while Mugambe was pursuing a PhD at the University of Oxford.
The case, brought to light on February 18, 2025, describes Mugambe as having taken "advantage of her status" as a judge and an authority figure over her alleged victim.
It is reported that she prevented the woman from seeking steady employment and forced her to perform duties including cleaning and childcare without pay.
The prosecution alleges that Mugambe had the intention of making her own life easier at minimal cost.
Evidence presented in court suggests that Mugambe threatened her alleged victim with deportation back to Uganda when the victim began questioning her authority.
In a message to an alleged accomplice, Mugambe purportedly indicated that if the young woman retracted her interest in the case, it would effectively nullify the police's ability to proceed against her.
Furthermore, during police questioning, Mugambe asserted that she possessed "diplomatic immunity" due to her position as a judge.
However, inquiries made by the Metropolitan Police's diplomatic team revealed that she did not have any registered diplomatic immunity in the UK, impacting her legal standing in the ongoing investigation.
The prosecution also alleges that Mugambe conspired with John Leonard Mugerwa, a deputy high commissioner for Uganda, to arrange the victim's entry into the UK under dubious circumstances, including accusations of a "dishonest" trade-off to facilitate the arrangement.
This conspiracy reportedly included arrangements by Mugerwa for the Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman's travel to the UK, with Mugambe's exploitation of the individual as the intended outcome.
Mugambe's official UN profile indicates that she was appointed to the tribunal’s judicial roster in May 2023, just three months prior to police intervention at her residence in Oxfordshire.
Opening the prosecution's case, Caroline Haughey KC noted the significant responsibilities vested in judges, highlighting the expectation that they uphold the law and protect the rights of others.
The charges against Mugambe include human trafficking and related offenses.
She has entered a plea of not guilty for all four charges leveled against her, with the trial anticipated to last for three weeks.
