The Red Eagles won their first Uganda National League championship title in 1974 and repeated the feat the following season in 1975.

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.

[8] 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.

Then a match fixing scandal involving Express' arch rival Villa interrupted this successful period.

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.