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Maid enslaved by UN judge speaks of ordeal

The UN judge convicted of enslaving a young woman has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison.

Ugandan High Court judge Lydia Mugambe, who lived in Britain, was found guilty in March at Oxford Crown Court, of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness.

Mugambe collapsed in the dock as the verdict was read out (2 May) and was escorted from court by two dock officers.

Abused

At the trial in March Caroline Haughey KC, for the prosecution, said that Mugambe had exploited and abused a young woman, taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to properly paid employment.

Mugambe had forced the young woman to work as her maid and expected her to provide childcare free as the judge studied for a PhD, prosecutors also said.

Conspired with diplomat

Mugambe also conspired with John Leonard Mugerwa, who was Uganda’s deputy high commissioner in London, to arrange for the young woman to come to Britain.

Mugerwa has since returned to Uganda.

Prosecutors said the pair had contrived a “very dishonest trade-off”.

Speaking exclusively to the London Times, the young woman said that the UN judge “enjoyed and was empowered” by the campaign of abuse.

The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said that she was ordered to do “hard, arduous tasks”, and that her passport and identity documents were taken away.

“I thought she would find me jobs or at least pay me, but nothing. Then, whatever job I got she would not allow me to work,” she said.

The UN judge also locked up the young woman and ransacked her room, threatening to burn her passport and bank card.

“She was a fierce woman,” the victim said.

“Everything was done under duress, instruction and fear.”

Mugambe has also been suspended by Oxford University, where she was studying.