As tensions rise ahead of Uganda’s 2026 presidential election, opposition leader Bobi Wine is telling people to download Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app developed by Jack Dorsey, one of Twitter’s founders. This way, they can still talk to each other even if the government shuts down the internet.
Robert Kyagulanyi, whose real name is Wine, is the head of the National Unity Platform and has been a vociferous opponent of President Yoweri Museveni’s long tenure.
Wine recently posted on social media that the ruling party might use the same tactics as in past elections to silence criticism by cutting off internet access. “They turn off the internet to stop people from talking to each other and make sure that people don’t organize, check their election results, and demand accountability for the huge election theft,” Wine said.
A History of Internet Restrictions in Uganda
There is evidence that Uganda has shut down the internet during past elections. In 2016, President Museveni ordered all social media sites in the country to go dark due to concerns about national security.
In 2021, the government blocked internet and social media access for several days during voting and protests, much as they had before. The Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network says these blackouts hurt opposition groups more than others, as they rely on digital tools to campaign, organize rallies, and mobilize support.
The Network says that these kinds of restrictions make it harder for people to get involved in politics and see what’s going on, which helps the current government stay in power. Government authorities, on the other hand, have defended the actions as vital to maintaining the peace and preventing the spread of false information during sensitive times.
Recent events have made them even more worried. Last week, news broke about a government memo stating that Elon Musk‘s company couldn’t bring in Starlink satellite internet equipment. This could make it harder for people in remote locations to access the internet. Wine pointed out this move as part of a bigger plan to regulate the flow of information.
Bitchat: An Alternative That Isn’t Centralized
Dorsey released Bitchat in beta in July. It works on Bluetooth mesh networks, meaning people can talk to each other without using regular internet infrastructure. The app’s white paper stresses that it is completely decentralized, with no need for central servers, user accounts, email, or phone numbers.
This construction makes it strong enough to withstand shutdowns, and users can connect directly through nearby devices.
In his support, Wine hailed the app’s potential, saying it would allow people to talk to “thousands of people in record time” and make it easier to share “other important information to specific or other users” during the election period. He made Bitchat a tool for empowerment, letting Ugandans get beyond any repression.
A Rise in Interest and Similarities Around The World
After Wine’s call, interest in Bitchat has grown a lot in Uganda. Google Trends data shows that searches for the app went from zero to 100 the day after his post. Related searches like “Bitchat apk download” and “how to use Bitchat” saw a huge rise.
Statistics show that more than 936,000 downloads have occurred since the app was released, with more than 4,200 in the previous day and 32,500 in the last week.
This pattern is comparable to what has happened in other countries facing problems. In September, there was a big increase in Bitchat downloads in Madagascar during protests. This happened after large increases in Nepal and Indonesia during political unrest.
Tensions and Stakes in the Election
Wine and Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, will face off in the 2026 election on January 15. Wine, a former artist who became a politician, ran against Museveni in 2021 and said there was widespread cheating. The president disputes these charges. As the campaigns heat up, people are keeping a watchful eye out for signals of digital suppression.
Bitchat is an interesting new way to address a problem, but we still need to see how well it works in Uganda during a major blackout. Wine’s support shows how decentralized technology is becoming more important in global political fights.
