Mugambe, who had been studying for a law PhD at Oxford University, was found guilty on Thursday of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness following a trial at Oxford Crown Court, the Guardian reported.
Prosecutors told the Court that Mugambe, who is also a high court judge in Uganda, used her status to take advantage of the victim in the "most egregious way" possible. After facilitating the victim's travel to the UK, Mugambe forced the young Ugandan girl to work as her maid and provide childcare without receiving compensation. The defendant also prevented the victim from seeking employment elsewhere.
"Lydia Mugambe has exploited and abused [the victim], taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to properly paid employment and deceiving her as to the purpose of her coming to the UK," prosecutor Caroline Haughey told the jury.
Mugambe denied to the Court that she forced the victim to act as her maid, claiming that she treated the young girl with care. However, the victim said to the jurors that she felt "lonely" and "stuck" as she was prevented from finding employment elsewhere.
Prosecutors said that Mugambe's intention to bring the victim to the UK was to "make her life easier and at the least possible cost to herself." The jury determined that Mugambe had engaged in "illegal folly."
"On her arrival, [the victim] was made to work for Lydia Mugambe from the very start, unremunerated and acting as a maid and for childcare to give Mugambe back her life," Haughey said. "Deprived of her freedom to choose her own work, to control her ID documents, she was beholden to Lydia Mugambe."
The prosecutor added: "A young woman brought in for the convenience of Ms. Mugambe's life but mistreated - mistreated by Ms. Mugambe, a woman of power and intelligence who had no qualms in lying not only to [the victim] but to the police when they sought to ensure her safety and wellbeing."
A video of the arrest released by Thames Valley police showed that Mugambe was shocked to learn she was being apprehended under the Modern Slavery Act. She then claimed to have immunity, telling the officer that she had a diplomatic passport.
Mugambe was appointed to the UN's judicial roster in May 2023, according to her profile on the UN's website.
