Kampala, Uganda: At least 1.7 million Ugandans have reportedly downloaded BitChat, a peer-to-peer messaging application, amid growing public anxiety over a possible internet shutdown ahead of the January 15 general elections.
The surge in downloads comes as rumours continue to circulate on social media and messaging platforms suggesting that authorities could restrict internet access during polling, similar to measures taken during the 2016 and 2021 general elections.
Although government and regulators have publicly dismissed the claims, precautionary behaviour among users appears to be accelerating.
According to digital usage trackers cited by industry observers, the estimated 1.7 million downloads account for roughly one per cent of Uganda’s population, with the majority of users accessing the Android version of the application over the past several days.
BitChat has attracted heightened attention because of its design, which allows communication to continue even under limited or disrupted internet conditions through decentralised, peer-based technology. That functionality has made it particularly appealing to users seeking alternative ways to stay connected during the election period.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has repeatedly sought to calm public fears, insisting there is no plan to shut down the internet during the polls. Earlier this week, UCC officials described the shutdown claims as misinformation capable of causing unnecessary panic.
However, public scepticism remains high, largely due to memories of previous election cycles when access to the internet and social media platforms was restricted. That lingering mistrust has fuelled early adoption of messaging platforms perceived to be resilient to network disruptions.
The debate intensified further after UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo stated during a media briefing that the regulator has the technical capacity to block any application, including BitChat, if required under the law.
Those remarks prompted a brief but widely shared reaction from BitChat developer and X (formerly Twitter) co-founder Jack Dorsey, who responded on X with a single-word post: “Interesting.”
As Uganda heads into polling day, the rapid uptake of BitChat underscores both the central role of digital communication in the country’s democratic process and the continued mistrust surrounding election-period internet access, despite official assurances to the contrary.
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