BitChat Tops App Charts in Uganda Amid Internet Shutdown Ahead of 2026 Presidential Elections

BitKE · 2026-02-18T21:49:04+00:00

The decentralized app BitChat became the most-downloaded app in Uganda during a nationwide internet shutdown amid presidential elections, as it allows communication without the internet. The app’s rise reflects public demand for uncensored communication tools.

BitKE

2026-02-18 21:49:04

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The decentralized application, BitChat, has surged to become the most-downloaded app in Uganda after authorities cut off public internet access nationwide during the presidential election period, officials confirmed.

The temporary internet shutdown – ordered by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and implemented from January 13 2025 – applies to mobile data, fibre, and other public internet services. The regulator said the move aims to curb the spread of online misinformation, disinformation and content that could incite violence in the politically sensitive run-up to Thursday’s vote.

As a result, Bitchat – an encrypted decentralized messaging app that functions without internet using Bluetooth mesh networking – now leads the charts on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play in Uganda. Virtual Private Network (VPN) apps also ranked highly, underscoring the strong local demand to access information and communication tools despite the blackout.

How BitChat is Used to Keep Everyone Connected During Internet Blackouts

Last week, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo had insisted that the internet would not be disconnected and even claimed the regulator possessed the technical ability to block Bitchat itself if necessary.

“Why would you use Bitchat when there is internet?” Thembo said, adding that his team could restrict platforms operating outside Uganda’s legal framework.

REGULATION | Uganda Communications Commission Director Says Its ‘Very Easy’ for Government to Switch Off BitChat

This development mirrors rising public interest in the decentralized app after opposition leader, Bobi Wine, urged supporters to download it, warning that the government might again cut connectivity as it has in previous elections. According to previous BitKE report, searches for ‘Bitchat’ in Uganda spiked sharply after his appeal, suggesting that fears of a shutdown helped fuel adoption.

Ugandan Opposition Leader Triggers a Surge in Downloads for BitChat, a Decentralized Messaging App

Wine highlighted that Bitchat’s peer-to-peer, decentralized design allows messaging without internet, potentially enabling communication across large groups even when networks are disabled – a feature particularly attractive in election conditions where internet services are curtailed.

Uganda has previously blocked internet and social media during elections – in both 2016 and 2021 – a pattern that has drawn criticism from rights advocates who say such shutdowns hinder transparency and suppress civic participation.

Despite government assertions that the shutdown is a security precaution, critics argue that restricting internet access and online platforms like Bitchat may suppress election-related information and undercut democratic engagement.

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