High application fees coupled with low use of smartphones feature prominently as challenges to mobile apps development.

All the same, the number of mobile phone subscribers rose to 78 per cent with industry observers and developers saying innovative mobile technologies can leverage agriculture, finance, e-governance, education, among others.

But some mobile apps developers say there are tech ecosystem challenges that hamper their innovative and entrepreneurial journey, thus making it difficult to implement their business solutions.

“Some developers don’t have money to start their application or get the short code for testing their mobile apps,” said Emmanuel Byiringiro, a developer and aspiring entrepreneur.

He has developed Inka track a yet-to-be released app for livestock.

According to Mr Byiringiro, high application charges hamper innovation as developers have to pay for the short test or deployment in business solutions. The annual authorisation charge is $1,000 (about Rwf800,000) at RURA, the telecom regulator.

For instance, the Incike app for fundraising for genocide widows had collected Rwf4 million by March, three years since its launch, yet it is targeting Rwf800 million.

The app runs during 100 days of Genocide commemoration using a free short code that the co-founder Aphrodite Mutanguha has been given by RURA.

Mutangana had earlier said he wanted the authorisation to extend the fundraising period to more than a year, because 100 days are not enough.

Although other mobile app development technologies such as Android use mobile, USSD apps will likely be used by many mobile owners.

Emmanuel Manimfashe, an IT business manager and developer said USSD has the potential to reach many people with feature phones but fees could be high for many start-ups.

He believes Android is good for long-term business projects because very few people use smartphones and a small number can download apps, yet there are many available for free.

The number of smartphones is small but increasing. According to data from RURA, about 665,684 mobile subscribers use smartphones among 8,900,000 million phone owners.

The beauty of Android run app and others that are compatible with smartphones is the option for varied features and functions but few in the country can use existing apps.

“I visit many local apps available online but very few are rated which means they are not used,” explained Mr Manimfashe.

While many mobile apps have been developed, it is not easy to track their uptake as some are not being implemented, others are struggling to get to the market and some are relatively successful by providing convenient solutions to many people on their mobile devices. But developers hope many apps will be used thus increasing business opportunities.

“In coming years we will be having more mobile applications in the market, because in the past no one thought about programming any android, USSD, windows phone application,” said Byiringiro.

Other hurdles include lack of finance as it is hard to convince financial institutions the value and potential of a technology product and innovation.