Internet shutdown during Uganda elections propels Bitchat to top of app charts
Ugandan authorities have cut internet access across the country as the presidential election begins on Thursday. This is the third consecutive election in which the government has implemented such measures. Officials say the shutdown is necessary to prevent the spread of misinformation online, but critics argue it suppresses election information and could potentially manipulate the results.
The internet went dark at 6:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, according to Uganda Communications Commission executive director Nyombi Thembo. His statement on X confirmed what many feared, despite his assurances last week that the internet would not be shut down. “Why would you use Bitchat when there is the Internet, the Internet will be there, use the Internet,” he previously said.
The growing popularity of Bitchat
With traditional internet access blocked, Ugandans have turned to Bitchat, an encrypted messaging app that works without internet using Bluetooth mesh networks. The app now tops the Apple App Store and Google Play charts in Uganda. Data from January 5 shows that more than 400,000 Ugandans have already downloaded Bitchat, and this number has likely increased significantly since the lockdown began.
Virtual private network apps also feature prominently in Uganda’s app rankings, showing that access to information remains a crucial need in the run-up to the vote. This situation highlights how people adapt when traditional communication channels are restricted.
A trend of Internet shutdowns during elections
This is not the first time Uganda has faced election-related internet restrictions. During the 2016 elections, President Yoweri Museveni imposed a nationwide block on access to the internet and social media, citing security concerns. A similar four-day outage occurred in 2021, starting on election night.
Each time, the government has presented these actions as necessary for public safety, while opposition groups and human rights organizations view them as an attempt to control the flow of information during critical political moments.
The global relevance of Bitchat
Bitchat has become a solution for people in various countries facing internet disruptions, whether from government interference or natural disasters. In September, nearly 50,000 Nepali users turned to the app during social media’s temporary ban due to anti-corruption protests. A similar situation occurred in Madagascar about three weeks later.
In November, many Jamaicans used Bitchat when Hurricane Melissa hit with winds of 185 miles per hour, disrupting regular communication channels. The app’s ability to operate without internet infrastructure makes it valuable in crisis situations where traditional networks fail.
The executive director of the Uganda Communications Commission has claimed that his team has the technical capacity to deactivate Bitchat, although it is unclear how they would achieve this given the decentralized and offline nature of the app. This tension between government control measures and decentralized communication tools appears likely to persist, particularly in regions experiencing political instability or frequent natural disasters.
What’s interesting, I think, is how quickly people adapt to these restrictions. They find ways to communicate despite obstacles, using whatever tools are available. The rise of Bitchat in Uganda shows that when one channel closes, others open, sometimes unexpectedly. The frequency of internet outages during elections raises questions about access to information in democratic processes, but also demonstrates human resilience in maintaining connections.
