Thames Valley Police in the UK has charged Ugandan Judge Lydia Mugambe, aged 49, of Lyne Road, Kidlington, in connection with a modern slavery investigation in Oxfordshire.
Judge Mugambe faces charges of conspiring to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national, arranging or facilitating travel with intent to exploit, and requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labor. The charges, authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service, are linked to an investigation involving one victim.
The trial is scheduled to begin at Oxford Crown Court on February 10, 2025, and is expected to last three weeks. Mugambe was formally charged with these offenses on August 7, 2024.
In response to media reports on this case, the Chief Justice of Uganda has acknowledged the matter and is engaging relevant government authorities.
A statement from the Ugandan Judiciary on October 29, 2024, noted,
“The Hon. Chief Justice is engaging relevant Government authorities over the matter; after which a formal communication, on the matter, will be issued.”
The judiciary’s statement confirms that further communication will be forthcoming after consultations with the concerned authorities.
