Jack Dorsey’s decentralized messaging app, Bitchat, is gaining rapid traction in Uganda as the country heads toward a high-stakes general election in 2026. Interest in the app has jumped sharply in recent days, driven largely by concerns over possible internet shutdowns during the voting period.
Data from Google Trends shows a clear spike in searches for “Bitchat” within Uganda over the past few days. Related queries such as “bitchat apk,” “bitchat mesh,” “what is bitchat,” and “how to use bitchat” were all flagged as breakout topics, indicating a sudden and significant rise in public interest.
Bitchat is designed as a decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging platform that operates without internet access. Instead, it uses Bluetooth mesh networks, allowing nearby smartphones to connect directly with one another. Each device functions as both a user endpoint and a relay node, passing messages across the network. Messages are encrypted and stored locally on users’ phones rather than on centralized servers. Importantly, the app does not require a phone number, SIM card, or email address, making it harder to track or restrict.
The app’s growing popularity in Uganda follows a broader pattern. In recent months, Bitchat has been adopted in countries such as Nepal, Madagascar, and Indonesia, where protesters have turned to the app to stay connected during periods of political unrest, censorship, and government-imposed connectivity blackouts.
In Uganda, attention on Bitchat intensified after opposition leader and politician Bobi Wine publicly encouraged citizens to download and use the app. In a post on X dated Dec. 30, Wine warned that authorities were preparing for another internet shutdown, similar to those imposed during past elections.
“As we all know, the regime is plotting an internet shutdown in the coming days, like they have done in all previous elections,” Wine wrote. He added that such measures are often used to disrupt communication, prevent organization, and block citizens from verifying election results or demanding accountability.
Wine is currently challenging long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, whose government blocked internet access for five days during both the 2016 and 2021 elections, starting on the eve of voting. Reports from December 2025 suggest that Uganda’s Electoral Commission and security agencies have once again discussed a temporary shutdown. Officials reportedly argue the move would help limit misinformation, hate speech, and sectarian content online.
Wine disputes that explanation, claiming the real goal is to stop opposition supporters from sharing Declaration of Results Forms, which officially document vote counts from individual polling stations. He noted that Bitchat could allow users to send photos of these forms and exchange other critical information even without internet access.
Usage data appears to reflect the growing interest. According to Chrome-Stats, Bitchat has recorded more than 32,000 new downloads over the past week alone, including 4,252 installations in the last 24 hours. As Uganda moves closer to the 2026 vote, Bitchat is increasingly being seen as a key tool for staying connected when traditional networks may go dark.
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