- Uganda cut internet access on Tuesday at 6:00 pm local time ahead of the presidential election starting Thursday.
- Bitchat, an internet-free encrypted messaging app, became the most-downloaded app in Uganda on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
- Authorities say the shutdown aims to limit online misinformation, while critics say it restricts election-related information and could influence results.
- Nyombi Thembo of the Uganda Communications Commission announced the shutdown in a statement on X.
- Data shared by Calle showed over 400,000 downloads of the app; VPN apps also rank highly as Ugandans seek access to information.
An internet shutdown in Uganda began Tuesday at 6:00 pm local time, cutting access ahead of the presidential election that starts Thursday, according to a statement on X by Nyombi Thembo of the Uganda Communications Commission. Officials said the measure is needed to reduce the spread of online misinformation, while critics say it suppresses election-related information and could affect the outcome.
The app Bitchat, which operates without internet using Bluetooth mesh networks, rose to the top of app charts on the Apple App Store and Google Play in Uganda. Other popular downloads include Virtual Private Network apps, reflecting public demand for alternative ways to access information as voting approaches.
Last week Nyombi Thembo had said the internet would not be cut and advised against using the offline app, saying “Why would you use Bitchat when there is internet, internet will be there, use internet.” He also said his team could block the app if needed.
Public data shared by Calle on Jan. 5 showed more than 400,000 Ugandan downloads of the app, a number that is likely higher now. The government previously blocked internet access during the 2016 and 2021 elections, making this the third consecutive election with shutdowns.
Bitchat has been used in other countries to bypass communication outages, including nearly 50,000 users in Nepal during a social media ban and widespread use in Madagascar and Jamaica during natural disasters, when standard networks failed.
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