Lydia Mugambe, a United Nations Judge has been found guilty of enslaving a young woman in the United Kingdom.
Lydia who is also a high court judge in Uganda, was convicted of conspiring to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness.
The 49-year-old judge however denied the charges.
According to prosecutors; she exploited and abused the young woman, and took advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to properly paid employment.
Evidence presented in court shows that Mugambe had conspired with John Leonard Mugerwa, Ugandan deputy high commissioner, to arrange for the young woman to come to the UK.
They reportedly participated in a “very dishonest” trade-off, in which Mugerwa arranged for Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman’s entry into UK.
In exchange for the favour, Mugambe promised to speak to a judge who was in charge of legal action Mugerwa was named in.
The young woman told the court that she felt lonely and stuck after her working hours were limited.
Mugambe was found guilty of conspiring to intimidate the woman to withdraw her support for the prosecution and to have the charges against her dropped.
The defendant alleged that she treated the young woman with love, care, and patience, but the jury rejected her defence.
After her arrest, Mugambe said she had diplomatic immunity due to her status as a UN judge. Thames Valley police in Oxfordshire however said any immunity she may have enjoyed had been waived by office of the UN secretary-general.
Mugambe will be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on May 2.
