Uganda Internet Shutdown Drives Citizens to Offline Messaging

By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter

Uganda, 15 January 2026 - As Uganda’s government imposed a nationwide internet blackout ahead of Thursday’s general election, millions of citizens found themselves cut off from online communication, prompting many to turn to offline messaging apps such as Bitchat to stay in touch and share information.

The interim shutdown, ordered by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), took effect at 6:00 pm on 13 January 2026, two days before voting, and remains in force until further notice.

Authorities cited concerns about the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and incitement to violence as justification for the move.

The UCC directed all mobile network operators and internet service providers to suspend public internet access and most mobile data services, including social media, messaging apps, web browsing and personal email, for non-essential users during the election period.

The regulator said the measure aimed to protect national security and public order amid political tensions in a closely contested poll where President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his four-decade rule.

UCC officials stressed that critical services, such as banking systems, hospital networks, tax platforms, utilities and the electoral commission’s digital systems, would remain accessible to avoid disruption of essential operations.

Human rights organisations have sharply condemned the blackout. Amnesty International’s regional director, Tigere Chagutah, called the shutdown “a brazen attack on the right to freedom of expression” that undermines democratic processes and limits access to vital information at a critical time.

Critics argue that rather than curbing misinformation, shutdowns often suppress dissent and hinder transparency.

Human Rights Watch also asserted that blanket internet blackouts violate constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations, particularly during national elections when access to information is essential.

With mobile data and online services offline, many Ugandans turned to Bitchat, an offline messaging app developed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey that uses Bluetooth mesh technology to allow communication without internet or cellular networks.

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The app exploded in popularity, becoming a top download on Apple and Google stores in Uganda with more than 28,000 downloads, a nearly four-fold increase compared with the previous months, Apptopia data showed.

Opposition leader Bobi Wine had earlier urged supporters to download such offline messaging tools ahead of the blackout to counter restrictions and to help people “organise, verify their election results” in the absence of traditional online platforms.

Unlike WhatsApp or Telegram, Bitchat works by creating a decentralised peer-to-peer network, where messages hop between nearby devices via Bluetooth without relying on central servers, echoing tools used by pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong and Myanmar.

Uganda has a history of internet shutdowns during elections and political upheaval.

During the 2021 elections, authorities also cut access and even imposed a social media ban that lasted days, leading to economic losses and constraints on communication for citizens and businesses.

Digital rights coalitions such as Access Now and #KeepItOn document such closures globally, nearly 300 shutdowns in 2024 alone across 54 countries, often used by governments to control information and dampen mobilisation during crisis periods.

Internet access has become essential for democracy, business, education and civil society, especially during elections. Blackouts hinder citizens’ ability to organise, share verified information, and participate meaningfully in governance.

Offline messaging apps like Bitchat provide alternative channels, but they cannot fully substitute the breadth and speed of online networks, underscoring how shutdowns reshape civic participation and digital freedom in modern elections.