UN Judge accused of enslaving woman in UK, Court hears

A court has heard that a judge affiliated with the United Nations (UN) lured a young woman to the UK under false pretenses, only to force her into unpaid domestic labor while she pursued studies at the University of Oxford.

Lydia Mugambe, a Ugandan High Court judge, allegedly exploited her influence over the woman, preventing her from securing stable employment and coercing her into working as a housemaid and caregiver without pay.

Prosecutors claim that from the beginning, Ms. Mugambe’s goal was to secure personal assistance at minimal cost. She is accused of conspiring with Uganda's Deputy High Commissioner, John Leonard Mugerwa, to facilitate the woman’s entry into the UK under deceptive circumstances.

The court was told that Mr. Mugerwa allegedly arranged for the Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman’s visa. In return, Ms. Mugambe purportedly attempted to influence a judge overseeing legal proceedings in which Mr. Mugerwa was implicated.

Further allegations suggest that Ms. Mugambe orchestrated the young woman’s travel with the intent to exploit her and later tried to pressure her into abandoning the case.

During questioning, Ms. Mugambe reportedly claimed diplomatic immunity, asserting that her position as both a UN and Ugandan judge shielded her from arrest. However, the Metropolitan Police's diplomatic unit confirmed she had no such immunity in the UK.

According to official UN records, Ms. Mugambe was appointed to the organization’s judicial roster in May 2023—three months after authorities were first alerted to the case.

It was also stated that Ms. Mugambe, who was pursuing a PhD in law at the time, placed the woman in a position where she had no means of financial independence.

The trial, expected to last three weeks, is ongoing.