Sadly, this probably is because your manager is "freelancing" on the mobile app on a shoe-string budget because it doesn't have support from most of management.

Sadly, this probably is because your manager is "freelancing" on the mobile app on a shoe-string budget because it doesn't have support from most of management. The result is that it has to camouflage in some other budget. The way to win here is to ask your boss or your boss' boss for a nice, well paid, ideally somewhat privileged project in 6 months, then hold him to it. Or move to a decent company of course. Not necessarily saying anything about your particular situation, but I've seen this before.