Bitchat Uganda became the most-downloaded app in the country after an Uganda internet shutdown began ahead of the presidential election starting on Thursday.
Ugandan officials said the Uganda election internet blackout will keep internet access unavailable during the voting period. As a result, many users shifted to tools that work during outages.
Stay ahead in the crypto world – follow us on X for the latest updates, insights, and trends!🚀
The shutdown began on Tuesday at 6:00 pm local time, according to Nyombi Thembo of the Uganda Communications Commission, who posted the timing in a statement on X.
Bitchat Uganda Hits No.1 on App Store Uganda charts and Google Play Uganda charts
Bitchat Uganda rose to the top of the App Store Uganda charts and the Google Play Uganda charts after the Uganda internet shutdown started.
At the same time, VPN apps Uganda also ranked among the top downloads. That shift showed how quickly users looked for ways to stay connected during the Uganda election internet blackout.
The report cited app ranking data from Appfigures, which tracked Bitchat Uganda in the free section while the shutdown remained in place.
Uganda Communications Commission Confirms Shutdown as Critics Point to Election Impact
Ugandan authorities described the Uganda internet shutdown as a way to limit the spread of online misinformation during the election period.
However, critics argued that cutting access restricts election-related information and can affect what voters see and share as the Uganda election internet blackout continues.
The public messaging also shifted within days. Last week, Nyombi Thembo suggested the internet would stay on and questioned the need for offline messaging.
Nyombi Thembo Quote Draws Attention as Officials Discuss Turning Off Bitchat
As the story developed, Nyombi Thembo addressed the app directly while discussing internet access.
“Why would you use Bitchat when there is internet, internet will be there, use internet,” he said last week, before the Uganda internet shutdown began.
He also said his team had the technical capacity to turn off the app, even as Bitchat Uganda climbed the App Store Uganda charts after the blackout started.
Bluetooth mesh messaging app Use Grows as Encrypted offline messaging Becomes the Workaround
Bitchat Uganda runs as a Bluetooth mesh messaging app, which means phones can pass messages between nearby devices without using mobile data.
That setup supports encrypted offline messaging during a blackout, because devices can relay messages through a local network built by users’ phones.
As the Uganda election internet blackout continued, that design helped explain why people downloaded the app while standard internet services stayed unavailable.
400,000 downloads Uganda Mark Shows Scale Before the Election Week Cut
Data shared by Calle on Jan. 5 said more than 400,000 downloads Uganda had already taken place.
That number mattered because the count came before the Uganda internet shutdown started on Tuesday evening.
After the blackout began, the report said the figure likely increased as more users searched for encrypted offline messaging options.
Encrypted offline messaging Spreads Beyond Uganda During Bans and Disasters
Outside Bitchat Uganda, the app has also appeared during other disruptions where standard platforms failed or access changed.
In September, the report said nearly 50,000 users in Nepal turned to the app during a temporary social media ban linked to corruption protests.
Later, similar usage reportedly appeared in Madagascar about three weeks afterward, while Jamaica also saw a spike in downloads during Hurricane Melissa, which the report linked to 185-mile-per-hour winds that disrupted communications.
Disclosure:This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Kriptoworld.com accepts no liability for any errors in the articles or for any financial loss resulting from incorrect information.
Tatevik Avetisyan is an editor at Kriptoworld who covers emerging crypto trends, blockchain innovation, and altcoin developments. She is passionate about breaking down complex stories for a global audience and making digital finance more accessible.
📅 Published: January 14, 2026 • 🕓 Last updated: January 14, 2026
