Briefing Paper

Migration as Adaptation: Addressing Rural-Urban Migration in Uganda

There is a need for better understanding of the role of climate change as a driver of rural–urban migration in Uganda, particularly to Kampala. Climate change migration in Uganda has yet to be explored in detail, and with limited data on internal migration trends it is difficult to anticipate the scale of potential increase. This policy briefing outlines the role of climate change in the country’s migratory patterns, as well as the risks and vulnerabilities of migrants coming to Kampala. For example, it considers the movement of migrants to risk-prone areas and the challenges this migration poses to both their safety and the capital city’s resource planning. Recommendations are aimed at developing the database needed to inform evidence-based interventions and advocating for the inclusion of migration as an adaptation strategy in Uganda’s national and regional climate change planning.