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A United Nations judge studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford has been convicted of forcing a young woman to work as a slave.
Prosecutors said Lydia Mugambe, 49, took “advantage of her status” by preventing the woman from holding down steady employment and forcing her to work as her maid.
Following her conviction on Thursday, Thames Valley Police released bodycam footage showing Mugambe’s arrest at her home in Oxfordshire.
In the footage, Mugambe appeared shocked when an officer said he was arresting her under the Modern Slavery Act.
She told the arresting officer: “I am a judge in my country, I even have immunity. I am not a criminal.”
Asked to reaffirm that she had immunity, Mugambe said: “Yes, I have a diplomatic passport.”
The conversation ended with the defendant saying: “I came here as a student, I don’t need anyone to work for me.
“I didn’t come with her, she asked me because she has worked at my home before, she asked me.”
Mugambe 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.
Oxford Crown Court had heard Mugambe, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, worked with John Leonard Mugerwa, the Ugandan deputy high commissioner, to arrange for the young woman to come to the UK.
Caroline Haughey KC, prosecuting, told jurors during the trial: “On her arrival, she was made to work for Ms Mugambe from the very start, unremunerated and acting as maid and for child care to give Ms Mugambe back her life.
“Deprived of her freedom to choose her own work, to control her ID documents, she was beholden to Ms Mugambe.”