Uganda’s Internet Blackout History Fuels Bitchat Adoption

[johnblockbuster]

Uganda has a track record of cutting internet access during elections. In both 2016 and 2021, the government ordered nationwide shutdowns citing security concerns, leaving citizens without access to social media and messaging platforms for days at a time.

Bitchat’s decentralized design has also made it popular beyond Uganda. The app has seen spikes in downloads during protests in Nepal and Madagascar, and became one of the most downloaded apps in Jamaica during Hurricane Melissa, highlighting how mesh-based messaging is increasingly viewed as a fallback during crises and censorship events.

[JanEmil]

Does it work?