For many small business owners in Rwanda, unpaid debts are a major challenge that often lead to financial losses and, in some cases, the closure of businesses. Customers frequently take goods on credit and fail to repay, leaving traders in difficult situations.
To address this issue, a Rwandan innovation hub has developed a digital solution called “Trust Me”, an application designed to help track, manage, and recover debts. The app can be installed on a mobile phone or computer, allowing businesses to formalize credit agreements with customers in a way that is legally binding and even admissible in court.
Tackling an everyday problem
In many parts of Rwanda, especially in local trading communities, extending credit to customers is a common practice. Traditionally, debts are written down in notebooks—or sometimes not recorded at all—making disputes over amounts or repayment frequent. In some cases, debtors exploit this lack of accountability to avoid repayment entirely.
Majyambere Philbert, one of the developers of Trust Me, explained that the app was created to help businesses prevent such losses and reduce conflicts over money.
“It supports traders when they want to give goods on credit. Instead of blindly trusting, the app allows the debtor to make a request through the system, which we then track until repayment. If the person refuses to pay, because they had already filled in their information and accepted the terms, it works like a digital contract. We can then forward that agreement to the relevant authorities to support the creditor,” he said.
Preventing problems before they happen
Majyambere added that the key strength of Trust Me lies in prevention. “Someone with bad intentions will likely refuse to register on the app. That alone is a red flag for the trader, who then knows not to extend credit. If you’re using Trust Me, you can tell your customers that all credit transactions go through the platform. Late payments are recorded, and the debtor’s record is visible to other traders, making it difficult for them to borrow elsewhere.”
Beyond debt management
The application has potential uses across multiple sectors, including schools, factories, and property rentals. It also includes a feature to help households manage domestic workers more securely. Employers can register their workers with complete identification details, making it easier to trace them if issues arise. Conversely, employees can also use the platform if they feel exploited or cheated by their employers.
Majyambere revealed that the company plans to deploy staff in every local administrative cell (umudugudu and akagari) to educate communities on how to use Trust Me and to make the platform more accessible.
With debt-related disputes a persistent problem for small businesses in Rwanda, innovators hope that Trust Me could become a transformative tool for accountability, trust-building, and business sustainability.
