Domestic government plans to rescue judge on trial in England

On By Karl

The government has promised to provide necessary support to High Court Judge Lydia Mugamba, who is currently detained in a facility in the United Kingdom.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao said yesterday that he had instructed the Prosecutor General’s Office to find viable options on how to assist the judge.

“I only learned of his case two days ago. I instruct the Prosecutor General’s Office to advise on options,” Mr. Mao said.

Efforts to speak to the government’s chief legal counsel, Mr Kiryowa Kiwanuka, about the legal options his office has for Justice Mugambe were unsuccessful as his known telephone number was not available at press time yesterday.

Over the weekend, it was revealed that UK-based Thames Valley Police had slapped Judge Mugambe with three charges linked to modern slavery.

According to the police website, the charges range from conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration laws by a non-UK national, arranging or facilitating the travel of another person for the purpose of exploitation, and coercing a person into forced or compulsory labour. .

The charges against Judge Mugambe, who is on sabbatical leave to pursue his doctorate at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, were approved by the Crown Prosecution Service in August.

The marathon trial is scheduled to begin on February 10, 2025, at Oxford Crown Court in England.

When contacted, the British High Commission in Uganda said they were unable to comment on the matter as investigations into the matter were ongoing.

“Thank you for your inquiry. As this is a live investigation and an operational matter for Thames Valley Police we are unable to comment. Inquiries should be directed to the media offices,” communications specialist Ms Tina Wamala said in an email response yesterday.

Close family sources on Monday said the lawyer was the victim of a scheme by a Ugandan girl he helped get to the UK, instead joining groups that gave him poor advice about what strategies he could use to get asylum.

When the girl in question reached the UK, it is believed that her peers advised her to inform the police that she was being held against her will by the judge. That’s when the police stepped in and had the judge charged.

Under UK law, a person found guilty of modern slavery can face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.