As Uganda heads into presidential elections, one app has suddenly taken center stage — Bitchat. The decentralized messaging platform has become the country’s most downloaded mobile app just as a nationwide internet shutdown comes into effect, with voters turning to offline tools to stay connected.
Appfigures data shows Bitchat is now ranked number one on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in Uganda. VPN apps are also trending, but Bitchat stands out for one simple reason: it works without the internet. The app uses encrypted Bluetooth mesh networks, allowing users to send messages even during a complete connectivity blackout.
The spike in downloads didn’t happen by accident. Momentum grew rapidly after opposition leader Bobi Wine encouraged supporters to install Bitchat ahead of the polls. With online platforms restricted and social media access uncertain, the app has quickly become a digital lifeline for many Ugandans trying to communicate during voting.
This isn’t Uganda’s first digital blackout during elections. Internet access has now been cut off three times ahead of national voting, despite earlier assurances to the contrary. Just last week, Uganda Communications Commission executive director Nyombi Thembo claimed that connectivity would not be shut down. He also downplayed Bitchat’s importance and suggested it could be disabled if needed.
“We know how it can be made not to work. Don’t be excited by Bitchat, it’s a small thing,” Thembo remarked.
However, developers behind Bitchat hold a very different view. A contributor known as Calle responded that the platform’s decentralized design makes shutting it down extremely difficult. Calle also revealed internal metrics suggesting the app has already been downloaded more than 400,000 times — a figure highlighting just how quickly it has spread among Ugandan users.
Bitchat’s rising global profile didn’t start in Uganda. The app first gained attention in July 2025, when Jack Dorsey released its beta version. Since then, it has repeatedly surfaced during moments of crisis and political tension. It was used during protests in Nepal, saw adoption in Madagascar during unrest, and became popular in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa severely damaged communication infrastructure.
Now Uganda joins that list as voters adapt to offline elections. With traditional internet channels unavailable, people are experimenting with new ways to talk, organize, and share updates — and Bitchat has landed in the spotlight as their go-to option.
While the election outcome remains uncertain, one trend is already clear: decentralized, internet-free communication tools are no longer niche experiments. In Uganda, they have become part of everyday political life, growing fastest when traditional connections go dark.
Also Read: Germany’s DZ Bank Cleared to Launch Retail Crypto Trading
