A developer behind the decentralized messaging app Bitchat has pushed back against claims by Ugandan authorities that the service can be shut down, as the country moves closer to national elections and officials warn of potential disruptions.
Key Takeaways:
- Ugandan authorities say they can block Bitchat, while the app’s developers argue its decentralized design makes shutdowns difficult.
- Downloads surged amid fears of another election-related internet shutdown.
- Bitchat’s decentralized design makes it useful during connectivity blackouts.
On Monday, Uganda Communications Commission executive director Nyombi Thembo said regulators have the technical capability to disable Bitchat if needed.
His comments came amid growing use of the app by Ugandans preparing for the possibility of another internet blackout.
Bitchat Gains Users After Opposition Warns of Possible Internet Shutdown
Interest in the app surged last week after opposition leader Bobi Wine urged supporters to install it as a contingency plan, citing past election-related internet shutdowns.
Ugandan authorities have previously restricted online access during politically sensitive periods.
“We know how it can be made not to work,” Thembo said, adding that the country has significant technical expertise. “Don’t be excited by Bitchat, it’s a small thing.”
One of Bitchat’s developers, known online as Calle, rejected that assessment. Citing internal data, Calle said more than 400,000 Ugandans have already downloaded the app.
“You can’t stop Bitchat. You can’t stop us,” Calle wrote on X, encouraging local developers to contribute to open-source tools. “Free and open source. Unstoppable. From the people for the people.”
Uganda has a track record of restricting connectivity during elections. In 2016, President Yoweri Museveni ordered a nationwide internet and social media shutdown, citing security concerns.
A similar four-day blackout began on election night in 2021.
Because Bitchat requires no accounts, phone numbers, or central infrastructure, supporters see it as a workaround if access to the wider internet is cut again.
Bitchat Uses Bluetooth Mesh to Enable Internet-Free Encrypted Messaging
Bitchat, which entered beta testing in July, operates without traditional internet infrastructure.
The app uses Bluetooth-based mesh networks to relay encrypted messages between nearby devices, allowing communication even when mobile data or broadband services are unavailable.
According to its technical documentation, the system has no central servers and does not require phone numbers, email addresses or user accounts.
The app’s appeal is not limited to Uganda. During protests in Nepal last September, tens of thousands of users reportedly turned to Bitchat amid a temporary social media ban. Madagascar saw a comparable spike weeks later.
In November, the app briefly became one of the most downloaded tools in Jamaica during Hurricane Melissa, when connectivity disruptions left many residents seeking alternative ways to communicate.
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