KAMPALA, Uganda — A little-known offline messaging application ‘Bitchat’ created by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has unexpectedly become a critical communication tool for Ugandans following a nationwide internet shutdown ahead of a highly contested presidential election.
The app, Bitchat, has surged to the top of download charts on both Apple and Google app stores in Uganda, highlighting the extent to which citizens are seeking alternative ways to stay connected.
Data from market intelligence firm Apptopia shows the platform has recorded more than 28,000 downloads so far this year, nearly quadrupling its uptake compared with the previous two months combined.
Ugandan authorities ordered a sweeping suspension of public internet access and selected mobile services on Tuesday, just two days before voters headed to the polls.
The election could see President Yoweri Museveni, 81, extend his rule beyond four decades as he seeks a controversial seventh term in office.
In a directive issued to telecommunications firms, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) instructed mobile network operators and internet service providers to shut down access from 6pm local time (1500 GMT), citing concerns over electoral integrity and public order.
The regulator said the move was intended to curb “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks” during the sensitive election period.
“The UCC acknowledges the operational challenges this directive may impose and appreciates your full cooperation in upholding national stability during this sensitive period,” the commission said in a letter addressed to licensed mobile operators and internet service providers.
The blackout has drawn criticism from opposition leaders and civil society groups, who argue it undermines transparency and limits independent scrutiny of the voting process.
In recent days, security forces have detained hundreds of opposition supporters and used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse crowds at campaign events backing Museveni’s main challenger, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine.
Museveni, who seized power in 1986 after leading a five-year armed rebellion, is Africa’s third-longest-serving head of state.
Also Read: How Ugandans are staying online despite the internet blackout
Over the years, constitutional amendments have removed both age and term limits, enabling him to remain in office well into his eighth decade.
Political analysts say the president’s tight grip on state institutions, the security apparatus and the electoral machinery has significantly reduced the likelihood of an opposition victory in the East African nation of about 46 million people, despite growing dissent, particularly among younger voters.
As Uganda waits for the outcome of the vote, the sudden rise of offline communication platforms like Bitchat underscores both the resilience of citizens under digital restrictions and the central role technology now plays in modern electoral politics.
