Bitchat developer disputes Uganda's claim it can be shut down

One of the developers of Jack Dorsey’s decentralized messaging app Bitchat has cast doubt on Uganda’s threat to shut down the app ahead of the country’s presidential election, the developer said. On Monday Uganda Communications Commission executive director Nyombi Thembo said his team has the technical know-how to turn off Bitchat, saying “We know how it can be made not to work” and adding, “Don’t be excited by Bitchat, it’s a small thing.” Thembo also said he works with the highest concentration of software developers and engineers in the country.

Bitchat leverages Bluetooth mesh networks to enable encrypted communication without an internet connection. The app saw a surge in downloads after opposition leader Bobi Wine encouraged supporters to install it in case the government shuts down the internet, which the country has done in previous elections.

Data shared by Calle on Monday showed over 400,000 Ugandans have already downloaded the app; Calle posted on X, “You can’t stop Bitchat. You can’t stop us,” and urged more Ugandan developers to contribute to open-source projects. Uganda has previously cut internet access during elections, including a nationwide block in 2016 and a four-day blackout in 2021.

Bitchat has also seen spikes in downloads abroad during connectivity disruptions, including nearly 50,000 users in Nepal in September, a surge in Madagascar weeks later, and a jump to the second-most downloaded app on the Apple App Store in Jamaica during Hurricane Melissa.

Key Topics

Tech, Bitchat, Uganda, Nyombi Thembo, Bobi Wine, Bluetooth Mesh