Communication game intensifies before Uganda's general election, Jack Dorsey's Bitchat usage surges over 32,000 times

As the 2026 Ugandan presidential election approaches, the decentralized peer-to-peer communication app Bitchat, developed with the involvement of Jack Dorsey, has quickly gained popularity locally, with a significant surge in usage and attention, sparking widespread interest in “censorship-resistant communication tools.”

Google Trends data shows that in recent days, searches for “Bitchat” in Uganda have risen sharply, with related long-tail keywords such as “bitchat apk,” “bitchat mesh,” “what is Bitchat,” and “how to use Bitchat” marked as trending searches, indicating a rapid spike in user interest over a short period.

Bitchat is a decentralized instant messaging app based on Bluetooth Mesh network technology, enabling end-to-end encrypted communication between nearby smartphones without an internet connection. Each device functions as both a user endpoint and a relay node within the network, with all information stored locally on devices rather than on centralized servers. Additionally, users can register without a phone number, SIM card, or email, significantly reducing the risks of identity exposure and tracking.

In recent years, Bitchat has rapidly spread in countries with tense political situations or strict internet censorship, such as Nepal, Madagascar, and Indonesia, and is widely regarded as an “anti-censorship communication tool” to bypass network blocks. In Uganda, the app’s popularity is closely linked to the public calls of opposition leader Bobi Wine.

On December 30, Bobi Wine posted on X platform warning that the ruling authorities might cut off the internet again before the elections. He pointed out that during the 2016 and 2021 elections, the government implemented nationwide internet shutdowns lasting up to five days on the eve of voting, aiming to block public communication, hinder organization efforts, and conceal electoral fraud. He urged supporters to download Bitchat to transmit photos of election result declaration forms from polling stations and other critical information.

Although officials claim that discussions of internet shutdowns are aimed at curbing false information and hate speech, opposition groups believe the real goal is to prevent the rapid dissemination and verification of election results.

According to Chrome-Stats data, Bitchat’s new downloads in the past week have exceeded 32,000, with 4,252 downloads just in the last 24 hours. As Uganda’s election enters a critical phase, the role of decentralized communication apps in political mobilization and information freedom is attracting increasing attention.