Express FC

Express joined the Kampala and District Football League (KDFL) and by 1964 had become a leading force in the competition by winning Division One championship, with the club's leading scorer Ali Kitonsa netting 54 goals in 18 appearances. In 1968–69 the club participated in the inaugural season of the National League First Division, finishing in fourth position.

Express Football personnel dressed up in their new training kits clad with the BetSure logo, celebrating the parties' three-year sponsorship deal.

The Red Eagles won their first Uganda National League championship title in 1974 and repeated the feat the following season in 1975. In the 1977 season Express defeated the Army side Simba FC 2–0 in a crucial league match and were subsequently banned for allegedly being involving in anti-government activities, by the Governor of the Central Province, Col. Abdallah Nasur, who was unhappy about his side's loss. In 1979 the ban was lifted after the regime of Idi Amin had ended and Express returned to the National League for the 1980 season.[6]

The Red Eagles brief interlude from National League football had lasting consequences as it gave rise to the development of its youth side Nakivubo Boys. All officials of Express turned to Nakivubo Boys and engineered their new team to become a footballing force in Uganda. Nakivubo Boys changed its name to Nakivubo Villa and then later changed its name to Sports Club Villa.[3][4]

It was not until the 1993 season that Express won the Super League championship and there followed the most successful period in the club's history with further league titles in 1995 and 1996. Then a match fixing scandal involving Express' arch rival Villa interrupted this successful period. The scandal climaxed in 2002–03 season. and at the end of this season seriously tainting Ugandan football with Villa scoring 22 goals past Akol FC and then going on to take league title on goal difference from Express.[7]

Over the last ten years the club's league performance has diminished although in 2011–12 the Red Eagles secured the Super League championship title once more by finishing one point above Bunamwaya SC. The following season in 2012–13 the club finished in 11th place, their lowest top tier position. In 2018 a fundraising campaign was held in order to help save the team from relegation.[5] Express barely survived relegation in the 2017-18 season, ensuring their spot only after defeating bottom club Masavu 1-0 in the final game of the season.[8] Their 13th place finish became their lowest finish in the top flight.

In contrast to their league performances, Express have been the most successful club in the Ugandan Cup winning the competition on 10 occasions in 1985, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002–03, 2006 and 2006–07. They have also made numerous appearances in African cup competitions, including one appearance in the CAF Champions League, six appearances in the African Cup of Champions Clubs, two appearances in the CAF Confederation Cup, two appearances in the CAF Cup and five appearances in the CAF Cup Winners' Cup. In 1995 the Red Eagles reached the semi-finals of the African Cup of Champions Clubs before going out 2–1 on aggregate to South African club, Orlando Pirates, the eventual champions. In addition the club has twice finished runners-up in the CECAFA Clubs Cup, the regional club competition covering East and Central Africa, in 1994 and 1995. Another success was winning the East African Hedex Super Cup in 2001–02.

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Season	Competition	Round	Club	1st leg	2nd leg	Aggregate
1975	African Cup of Champions Clubs	First round	Horsed FC	1–0	0–0	1–0
		Second round	Ghazl Al-Mehalla	1–1	0–1	1–2
1976	African Cup of Champions Clubs	First round	Caïman Douala	1–0	0–1	1–1 (4–3 p.)
		Second round	Enugu Rangers	0–0	2–2	2–2 (ag.)
1986	African Cup Winners' Cup	First round	Al Ahly	0–2	1–0	1–2
1989	African Cup of Champions Clubs	First round	Mbabane Highlanders FC	4–0	1–2	5–2
		Second round	Zimbabwe Saints FC	1–0	0–1	1–1 (3–4 p.)
1992	African Cup Winners' Cup	First round	Al-Merreikh	0–1	1–1	1–2
1993	African Cup Winners' Cup	First round	Al-Merreikh	0–3	2–0	2–3
1994	African Cup of Champions Clubs	First round	Zamalek SC	disqualified	disqualified	w/o
1995	African Cup of Champions Clubs	First round	Force Nationale Securité	2–0	7–0	9–0
		Second round	Aigle Nkongsamba	3–0	0–1	3–1
		Quarter-finals	Dynamos	0–1	2–1	2–2 (ag.)
		Semi-finals	Orlando Pirates	0–1	1–1	1–2
1996	African Cup of Champions Clubs	Preliminary round	Sunrise Flacq United	1–0	1–3	2–3
1997	CAF Champions League	Preliminary round	Young Africans	0–0	1–0	1–0
		First round	CAPS United	2–5	4–2	6–7
1998	African Cup Winners' Cup	First round	Al-Mourada	0–0	1–0	1–0
		Second round	Espérance	1–0	0–2	1–2
1999	CAF Cup	First round	Medlaw Megbi	0–1	6–0	6–1
		Second round	Etoile du Sahel	2–2	0–2	2–4
2002	African Cup Winners' Cup	First round	Ghazl Al-Mehalla	2–1	1–2	3–3 (1–4 p.)
2003	CAF Cup	First round	Green Buffaloes	1–2	1–1	2–3
2004	CAF Confederation Cup	Preliminary round	Ethiopian Bunna	2–1	0–0	2–1
		First round	Lobi Stars	1–1	0–3	1–4
2008	CAF Confederation Cup	Preliminary round	AS Inter Star	1–0	0–1	1–1 (5–4 p.)
		First round	AS Vita Club	0–0	0–0	0–0 (2–4 p.)

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