Uganda considers challenging UK court’s conviction of Judge Lydia Mugambe

KAMPALA – The Ugandan government is mulling an appeal against the conviction of High Court Judge Lydia Mugambe by a UK court, following her guilty verdict on charges of exploiting a Ugandan woman brought to the UK.

Vincent Bagiire, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that the government has provided legal counsel to Justice Mugambe and is considering an appeal. “The ministry has been involved at every stage, and we provided her with a lawyer. The option of appealing the conviction is under consideration; we are actively involved,” Bagiire stated.

Justice Mugambe was convicted of conspiring to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law, requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labor, and conspiring to intimidate a witness. She is scheduled for sentencing on May 2, with convictions for modern slavery offenses carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The case against Mugambe began with a report to Thames Valley Police in February 2023, alleging that the victim was being held as a slave at her residence in Kidlington. Investigations revealed that Mugambe had secured a visa for the victim to work in the UK, but instead forced her to perform unpaid domestic work and childcare.

The prosecution argued that Mugambe’s actions were in exchange for assistance from John Mugerwa, the then Deputy High Commissioner at the Ugandan Embassy in London, in a separate Ugandan court case. Mugerwa’s involvement was investigated, but he was not charged due to his diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan government did not waive.

Sources close to Justice Mugambe claim that she was targeted by an individual seeking asylum and a UK work permit.

Mugambe was on sabbatical from the Ugandan Judiciary to pursue a PhD at Oxford University. The Judiciary has yet to issue a public statement regarding her situation.