Dr. Derreck Kayongo is a beacon of hope, a master weaver of purpose and impact, and a son of Africa whose hands have stretched across continents to uplift humanity. Born amidst Uganda's social upheaval, Derreck transformed the trauma of displacement into a calling for justice and dignity. He emerged not as a victim of circumstance but as a voice of change—a voice Archbishop Desmond Tutu once called “a light in the darkness, using something as humble as soap to restore dignity to those who’ve been forgotten.”
As the founder of the Global Soap Project, Derreck turned a simple idea into a movement. Recognizing that millions die each year from hygiene-related illnesses, while hotels discard tons of partially used soap, he devised a solution rooted in both compassion and pragmatism. His project recycled soap for communities in need, creating not only a cleaner world, but a fairer one.
That work laid the foundation for his current role as Executive Director of Clean Production Action (CPA), a global leader in promoting safer chemicals and sustainable materials. Where once he repurposed discarded soap, now he champions a world free from toxic exposure—a world where every product, every process, respects both people and planet.
Dr. Kayongo’s journey from soap to safer chemicals is no coincidence. It's a continuum. Hygiene and health begin with clean hands but must also extend to clean air, clean water, and clean supply chains. His leadership at CPA—overseeing groundbreaking programs like GreenScreen®, the Chemical Footprint Project, and BizNGO—ensures that corporations and governments are held to a higher standard: one where transparency, justice, and sustainability are not optional, but essential.
With the grace of a poet and the power of a prophet, Derreck speaks truth to power, reminding the world that the smallest acts—like washing your hands—can ripple outwards in revolutionary ways. His work has not only saved lives but transformed industries, proving that bold vision paired with integrity can reimagine what’s possible.
Dr. Derreck Kayongo continues to rise, a son of the soil and steward of the Earth, standing tall on the shoulders of giants like Maya Angelou and Archbishop Tutu, yet forging a legacy all his own.
And as he often says in his signature “Derreckism”: “When you’re given the chance to turn waste into worth, don’t just clean the world—change it.”