In a stunning fall from grace, Ugandan High Court judge and former UN official Lydia Mugambe has been sentenced to six years and four months in a UK prison for enslaving a young compatriot while studying at Oxford University. The 50-year-old human rights expert was convicted in March of modern slavery charges after keeping the victim as an unpaid domestic servant in her Kidlington home.
Oxford Crown Court heard how Mugambe orchestrated an elaborate visa fraud, falsely claiming the woman would work for Uganda's former deputy high commissioner John Mugerwa in London.
Instead, she was forced into domestic servitude under threats of retribution. Prosecutors revealed Mugambe traded legal services for Mugerwa's visa sponsorship - an arrangement that collapsed when UK authorities investigated.
Shocking bodycam footage showed Mugambe attempting to evade arrest by falsely claiming diplomatic immunity. Judge David Foxton condemned her "complete lack of remorse" and attempts to blame the victim during sentencing.
The survivor's impact statement painted a harrowing picture of life under Mugambe's control: "I lived in almost constant fear," she wrote, expressing terror about returning to Uganda where Mugambe's political connections could endanger her family.
Thames Valley Police praised the victim's courage in coming forward, while Oxford University confirmed disciplinary proceedings that may revoke Mugambe's academic credentials. The case has sent shockwaves through international legal circles, exposing how even human rights advocates can perpetrate exploitation.
Legal analysts note the case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in diplomatic visa programs, with Mugerwa escaping prosecution due to Uganda's refusal to waive his immunity. As Mugambe begins her sentence, activists are calling for tighter oversight of domestic worker visa schemes to prevent similar abuses.
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