INTRODUCING Mrs. Sandra Munduru Ulanga, an alumnus of the IMLI Class of 2015 (LL.M. Distinction) and the recipient of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) Marine Environment Law Prize.

Sandra, as she is very fondly called, is currently the Transport Regulations Officer at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Government of Uganda.

HOW SANDRA CAME ABOUT SELECTING IMLI?

When asked on why she selected IMLI, Sandra said that she was introduced to IMLI by her immediate Supervisor, the Assistant Commissioner then in charge of water transport in the Ministry and now the Commissioner of the Maritime Administration, who, in early 2014, had attended the Technical Committee’s Session at IMO. At the IMO Technical Committee Meeting, he had met Officials from IMLI who had made a presentation about the Institute. On his return, he received in his email the call for applications which he forwarded to Sandra who had just joined the Ministry and had discussed with him her intended career path.

Sandra researched on IMLI and maritime affairs as she was relatively new to the field having worked in aviation regulation and noted that, “The more I researched, the more I fell in love with the field. I then made the decision to apply and it is one of the best decisions of my life.”

PRIOR TO AND POST IMLI

Prior to IMLI, Sandra was working as an Air Transport Regulations Officer at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda.  Post IMLI, Sandra resumed work at the Ministry of Works and Transport in Uganda but in the capacity of a Transport Regulations Officer in Maritime Affairs.  Sandra will officially be moving to the newly created Maritime Administration within the Ministry. She currently sits in the Legal Committee of Port Management Association for Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA).

Sandra (far right) during PMAESA meeting inn Port Elizabeth, South Africa in February 2016

OTHER INTERESTS/PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

In terms of other interests, Sandra stated “I started lecturing on part time basis and meeting with LL.M. students in various universities for study groups and helping students who are pursuing international and/or maritime law as their area of interest.”

On the personal front, since her return from IMLI, Sandra got engaged, married and had a baby, all the while juggling her new responsibilities.

“One of the things I learnt while at IMLI is to multitask and to handle so many things at the same time. Family is an important aspect of life.”

IMPACT OF STUDIES AT IMLI TO SANDRA’S CURRENT ROLE AND OTHER INTEREST

Since Sandra’s return from IMLI, with the support of some of her colleagues, they have embarked on a project, themed “Preaching the Maritime Gospel”. They project aims to raise awareness about the need for regulation, emphasis on safety, security and the protection of the marine environment in the maritime sub-sector. Sandra stated that this is necessary, particularly for Uganda which is a land-linked country, as there is much emphasis on other modes of transport as opposed to the maritime one. She highlighted that Uganda has a vast inland water network with many casualties every year and as such, there is a paramount need to create awareness –

“We have made great strides in this as we started with setting up Uganda’s institutional framework. Our Cabinet finally approved the establishment of a Maritime Administration and this is to be set up and running by the start of the 2017/2018 financial year. We have also embarked on the review of our obsolete laws and regulations in the sub-sector – we are currently drafting a new Merchant Shipping Act- which we have never had before. In addition we are finalising the procedure to accede to various IMO and other international conventions and protocols. We have also embarked on setting up a maritime training institute at the Busitema University, Namasagali campus located on the shores of the River Nile.”

Sandra is also currently involved in a project of construction of the New Kampala Port at Bukasa that will serve Uganda and the port of Mwanza in Tanzania with Uganda designing a master plan construction commencing in in January 2018; part of the project is also proposing the set -up of an independent Ports Authority.

Sandra is also involved in projects with the Office of the Prime Minister, such as designing an Oil Spill Contingency Plan that is in line with the recently discovered oil in the Albertine Region and stated that –

“My IMLI training and experience has been very instrumental in my work and I have been able to contribute positively to the work highlighted above.”

Sandra recently joined WOMESA – the Women in the Maritime Sector in East and Southern Africa.  WOMESA was initiated by IMO and launched in December 2007, in Mombasa, Kenya, under IMO’s program on the Integration of Women in the Maritime Sector (IWMS). The IWMS program is now celebrating its 28^th year, having been launched in 1989. Its primary objective is to encourage IMO Member States to open the doors of their maritime institutes to enable women to train alongside men and so acquire the high-level of competence that the maritime industry demands. She noted, “I get to meet, network and exchange ideas with the best of the best in the maritime sector, women I look up to like Mrs Nancy Karigithu from Kenya, Ms Pamela Tansey IMO Consultant and WOMESA founding Member, Ms Helen Buni IMO Focal Point for Women in Maritime…..to mention but a few. I also met the first Woman Captain in Africa… And guess what? She is from Malawi, a land-linked (not locked) country. For me, just meeting her made my week. I have hope… I pray that a few years from now we shall launch the WOMESA Uganda chapter; that is my personal goal and pledge. THINK MARITIME, THINK WOMEN.”

Sandra on the left with other IMLI Alumni attending the attending the 8^th Conference and 10^th Anniversary Celebrations of WOMESA in Seychelles

IMPACT ON UGANDA

When asked what impact she wants to have on her work for Uganda, Sandra replied –

“I hope my work will have a positive impact for Uganda and lead to developments in the maritime sector. I am looking forward to a time when Uganda, a land-linkedcountry, has an international registry and a fleet on the high seas and becomes a maritime labour producing country which will help combat the high levels of youth unemployment. I am looking forward to a time of regulatory advancement and law reforms, reduction in casualties and measures to conserve the marine environment and marine resources especially as Uganda has recently discovered oil near Lake Albert and will be transported on Lake Victoria.”

MOTIVATION TO OTHERS

Sandra invites others considering a career in maritime and pursuing studies at IMLI by saying –

“Do not be afraid to pursue new things, fields, areas….do not let fear cripple your growth, had I let it, I would not be where I am today. Many people wondered or still wonder what a lady from a land-linked (not landlocked) country was doing pursuing an LL.M. in international maritime law, for what purpose? How would I benefit? Would I be employable? Well, since I received my Master’s Degree in Maritime Law at IMO IMLI, it has opened up many opportunities for me and positive changes for the State, and I am glad to say today, that fear did not stop me.”

FUTURE ACTIVITIES/PLANS

On her future activities and plans, Sandra is focussed on the work at the Ministry and what needs to be done as per Uganda’s work plans, especially for a young Maritime Administration.

Given the evolving nature of maritime law, Sandra would also like to continue to improve her knowledge and attend various trainings. She recently attended the IPER at Le Havre, France in June/July for the IMO “Women in Port Management Course”. Sandra hopes to work as an intern at IMO, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) or even Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALAS) as exposure to such institutions would bring a wealth of experience.