A Ugandan High Court judge has been found guilty of human trafficking and conspiracy to intimidate a victim in a landmark case that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic and legal circles.
Lydia Mugambe, who also serves as a United Nations judicial officer, was arrested under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act. Police footage captured her expressing disbelief when officers informed her of the charges, as she insisted she had diplomatic immunity and denied any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors successfully argued that Mugambe exploited a young Ugandan woman by misleading her about the purpose of her travel to the UK and subjecting her to unfair working conditions. The court heard that Mugambe allegedly conspired with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa to facilitate the woman’s entry into the country, reportedly agreeing to intervene in a legal matter involving Mugerwa in exchange.
The victim, whose identity remains protected, testified that she felt isolated and trapped during her time in the UK. Mugambe, who was pursuing a law PhD at the University of Oxford, maintained throughout the trial that she had always treated the woman with kindness and denied coercing her into unpaid labor.
Thames Valley Police confirmed that the United Nations had waived any diplomatic immunity Mugambe might have held as a UN judge, allowing the prosecution to proceed.
When the verdict was delivered, gasps were heard in the courtroom, and proceedings were briefly halted after Mugambe appeared unwell.
The case has highlighted ongoing concerns regarding labor exploitation and the potential misuse of diplomatic privileges.
