A developer behind the decentralized messaging app Bitchat has publicly rejected claims by Ugandan authorities that they possess the technical capability to shut down the service. This dispute arises as Uganda approaches national elections, with officials warning of potential disruptions and the app's downloads surging among citizens fearing another internet blackout.
On Monday, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) executive director Nyombi Thembo stated that regulators have the technical expertise to disable Bitchat if needed. "We know how it can be made not to work," Thembo said, downplaying the app's significance by adding, "Don't be excited by Bitchat, it's a small thing."
This warning was swiftly countered by a Bitchat developer known online as Calle. Citing internal data, Calle revealed that more than 400,000 Ugandans have already downloaded the app. In a post on X, Calle asserted the app's resilience: "You can't stop Bitchat. You can't stop us... Free and open source. Unstoppable. From the people for the people." The developer also encouraged local developers to contribute to the open-source project.
The surge in interest followed a call from Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine, who urged supporters last week to install Bitchat as a contingency plan, referencing the country's history of election-related internet shutdowns. In 2016, President Yoweri Museveni ordered a nationwide internet and social media blackout, and a similar four-day shutdown occurred on election night in 2021.
Bitchat's design is central to the controversy. The app, which entered beta testing in July 2025, operates without traditional internet infrastructure. It uses Bluetooth-based mesh networks to relay encrypted messages between nearby devices, requiring no central servers, phone numbers, email addresses, or user accounts. This makes it a potential workaround during connectivity blackouts.
The app's adoption extends beyond Uganda. It saw significant usage during protests in Nepal in September 2025 amid a social media ban, a comparable spike in Madagascar weeks later, and became one of the most downloaded tools in Jamaica during Hurricane Melissa in November 2025 when connectivity was disrupted.
