A United Nations Judge from Uganda, Lydia Mugambe (50), has been jailed for six years and four months after being accused of modern slavery.
Mugambe was studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when police discovered that she had a young Ugandan woman at home carrying out unpaid work as a maid and nanny.
She fraudulently arranged a visa for the woman, which stipulated that she would work as a private servant at the diplomatic residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner based at the country’s embassy in London.
While being arrested, Mugambe denied the offence and stated that the victim had accompanied her to the United States according to her own will.
During the court hearing, the prosecutors said that Mr Mugerwa sponsored the victim’s visa, knowing she would work in servitude for Mugambe.
Then in return, Mugambe would provide him assistance in relation to a separate court case in Uganda in which he was a defendant.
The court also heard that Mugambe had for the victim’s flight and picked her up from the airport.
Judge David Foxton, who delivered the ruling, stated that the accused showed absolutely no remorse for her actions and forcibly blamed the victim for what happened.
He described the case as a very sad case as he outlined Mugambe’s legal accomplishments including her work in the protection of human rights.
