Climate risks and vulnerability continue to disproportionately affect the urban poor given their constrained adaptive capacity. This paper examines the urban poor’s perceptions and vulnerability to climate change in Kampala. Data was collected from a proportionate sample of 534 respondents drawn from households that were randomly selected from the city’s informal settlements and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Six focus group discussions and 15 key informant interviews were conducted whose participants were purposively selected because of their knowledge and experiences. Quantitative data was analyzed using chi-square tests while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data from key informant interviews and focus group discussions. A total of 96.6% of the households were aware of climate change, mainly perceived as rising temperatures and reduction in rainfall. Floods (53.4%) and droughts (27%) were the most commonly experienced climate risks, with the former considered more frequent and severe. Perceptions and vulnerability to climate risk varied with incomes, education level, marital status, main occupation, housing conditions and length of stay. Individuals with less wealth and education, employed in informal business and having insecure housing tenure were most vulnerable to flooding than they are to drought. The sensitivity of the urban poor communities is heightened by ecosystem degradation, poor access to urban infrastructure, utilities and services. With socio-economic attributes highly associated to climate change vulnerabilities, incorporating social dimensions and exchange of information between the vulnerable communities, planners and decision makers is necessary to inform the city’s adaptation policy and building long-term urban resilience. Partnerships are necessary between the urban authorities, communities, civil society and donors/financiers to improve housing and livelihoods in slums settlements. At the same time, strengthening co-production of climate information services, building climate change awareness, restoration of critical ecosystems and a broader inclusive adaptation planning are avenues for building resilient urban poor communities.

鉴于城市穷人的适应能力有限，其气候风险和脆弱性继续对他们产生不成比例的影响。本文研究了坎帕拉城市贫民的看法和对气候变化的脆弱性。数据是从534个受访者的按比例抽样中收集的，这些受访者是从城市非正式住区中随机选择的家庭中抽取的，并使用结构化问卷进行了访谈。进行了6次焦点小组讨论和15次主要知情者访谈，这些参与者是根据他们的知识和经验而有针对性地选择出来的。使用卡方检验分析定量数据，而内容分析则用于分析关键知情人访谈和焦点小组讨论中的定性数据。共有96.6％的家庭意识到气候变化，主要被视为气温上升和降雨减少。洪水（53.4％）和干旱（27％）是最常见的气候风险，前者被认为更为频繁和严重。人们对气候风险的认识和脆弱性随收入，教育水平，婚姻状况，主要职业，住房条件和居住时间的不同而变化。财富和教育程度较低，从事非正规业务并没有固定住房权的人比遭受干旱的人更容易遭受水灾。生态系统退化，城市基础设施，公用事业和服务的获取不畅，加剧了城市贫困社区的敏感性。具有与气候变化脆弱性高度相关的社会经济属性，并纳入了社会层面和脆弱社区之间的信息交流，规划师和决策者对于告知城市的适应政策并建立长期的城市抗灾力至关重要。城市当局，社区，民间社会与捐助者/资助者之间必须建立伙伴关系，以改善贫民窟定居点的住房和生计。同时，加强气候信息服务的联合生产，提高气候变化意识，恢复关键的生态系统以及更广泛的包容性适应计划，都是建设有复原力的城市贫困社区的途径。