Former UN judge jailed for domestic slavery

Lydia Mugambe—former UN judge, Ugandan High Court judge, and Oxford law student—has been jailed for modern slavery offenses. Despite her background in human rights protection, Mugambe used fraud, deception, and abuse of power to traffic a young woman from Uganda to Oxfordshire and force her into domestic slavery. Her case is a stark reminder that slavery often hides in plain sight and underscores the urgent need to remain vigilant and to push governments to better protect domestic workers from exploitation.

Lived in fear

Police discovered a young woman working in Mugambe’s home as an unpaid maid and nanny, leading to a sentence of six years and four months in prison, reports the BBC. Superintendent Ben Clark, of Thames Valley Police, said there was “no doubt” that Mugambe was aware of her crimes. Clark added:

“Modern slavery is an under reported crime and I hope that the bravery of the victim in this case encourages other victims of modern slavery to come forward,”

During the hearing, a written statement from the victim revealed that she had lived in “almost constant fear.” Despite this, the judge noted that Mugambe “showed absolutely no remorse” and had even tried to place the blame on the victim.

Today, the young woman fears returning home because of Mugambe’s influential position in Uganda.

Exploited by those meant to protect

The court heard that Mugambe paid for the woman’s flight, collected her from the airport, and then forced her into domestic slavery at her home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. Mugambe arranged the woman’s visa under false pretenses, claiming she would be employed as a private servant at the London residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner.

Prosecutors asserted that Mugerwa intentionally sponsored the visa, even though he knew the woman would have to serve Mugambe instead. In exchange, Mugambe allegedly promised to help him with a separate legal case he faced in Uganda.

Authorities have not charged Mugerwa with conspiracy because he holds diplomatic immunity.

Protect the vulnerable

Mugambe exploited her victim’s vulnerability, taking advantage of the young woman’s lack of knowledge about her rights and deliberately misleading her about the real reason for coming to the UK. The court heard how a “clear and significant imbalance of power within the relationship” allowed Mugambe to trap the young woman in domestic slavery.

Sadly, this case reflects a broader, hidden crisis. Traffickers deceive countless domestic workers—many of them migrants—into accepting false job offers. Workers are then forced into households where they face isolation, exploitation, and abuse. Employers often withhold their pay, cut them off from their families, and mistreat them behind closed doors.

Governments have the tools to protect domestic workers. International Labour Organization Convention 189 lays out clear protections for domestic workers, but too few countries have signed on. It’s time to demand action. Urge your government to ratify Convention 189 and help end domestic slavery.