The government offered a safe corridor for the dispersed former Express players to join a club of their choice but not more than three would join a particular team.
However, little is said about the efforts to resurrect the club in the wake of the ouster of the Idi Amin regime in 1979. In fact, few may even recall the team that got the Red Eagles up and running as they desperately fought to return to their glory days of the mid-seventies.
Therefore, I bring you the Express’ newly-assembled squad of April, 1979 that kickstarted the club’s renaissance. Incidentally, the new Express administration used second-tier side Lufula FC and Nsambya FC to put together the new team.
STEVEN SEGUJJA: The first-choice custodian was recruited from Lufula and went on to become a mainstay in the team until 1987 when he switched to Nsambya.
ENOCK BAMULA: He was snapped up from Cooperative FC as the understudy for Segujja. He played for Express until 1983 before joining New Simba FC.
GOLIATH MUKASA: The centre half was acquired from Kayunga FC and made club captain. However, in 1983, the club deemed him surplus to requirements.
BILLY MABIRIZI: The left full-back, signed from Nsambya FC, played for the Red Eagles until 1984, when he moved to KCCA FC.
ABBEY KABANDA: The right full-back was signed from Nsambya. He played until 1982, when he retired from active football and transitioned into refereeing.
RICHARD MUGALU: The left winger, signed from Lufula FC, had one season with Express before switching to Coffee FC 1980 until 1993 when he retired.
DAVID KASIRYE: Express signed the right back from Nsambya. His career ended prematurely following a nasty injury he sustained in 1982.
ASHE MUKASA: The left-back is one of the few former players who returned to Express from retirement. He ended his career in 1980 and joined the technical bench.
BONIFACE ORYEMA: The sweeper was recruited from Lufula FC. The elegant defender left Express after the 1983 season.
ISAAC NKAADA: The defender was signed from Kyabadaza FC. In 1980, the team dropped him, but he made a comeback in 1983 and became a main-stay until his retirement in 1993.
RICHARD MAKUMBI: The centre half joined from Bell FC in 1980 but after just one season, he switched to Nile FC.
GODFREY KISEKKA: The centre half was still a Makerere University student when he joined Express. In 1982, he swapped Express for KCC FC but gave up the game in 1984. He went on to become an influential football administrator.
SIMON OMBA: The midfield maestro was recruited from Lufula FC. In 1983, he left Express and joined Coffee FC until his retirement in 1986.
EMMA MUGERWA: He was recruited from Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB) FC. The versatile player left Express in 1984 and moved to Spear Motors.
PETER KIRUMIRA: He was one of the few players who never joined another club after the Express ban. However, by the time he returned, his career was on the wane and he hung up his boots in 1981.
WILLIAM KATO: The versatile attacker was recruited from Lufula, until 1984, when he moved to New Simba FC.
STANLEY ‘TANK’ MUBIRU: He returned to Express from Nsambya FC, but he was caught up by age and retired in 1980.
ISMAEL TABAN: He joined Express from Lufula but the winger later left and moved to Jinja-based Tobacco FC.
HUDSON OCHIENG: He also joined from Lufula, but he left Express in 1983 and moved to Bell FC.
JOHN NTENSIBE: He rejoined Express from Nsambya FC but the winger did not stay long before returning to his native Masaka Union FC.
SAM NSEREKO: The soft-spoken player moved to Express from Nakivubo Boys but quit football a year later.
MATHIAS BBAALE: He joined Express in 1979 from Nsambya. The big centre forward left Express and joined KK Cosmos in 1986.
ALI MWANJE: The forward joined Express from Lufula FC in 1980, but the arrival of Issa Sekatawa in 1982 limited his playing time, and he left.
MOSES SEKISAMBU: At the time of joining Express, he was not attached to any club. The pacy striker played for the Wembley side until 1984, when he moved to UCB FC.
Express 1979 executive
Chairman: Sam Njuba 1st ViceChairman: Jimmy Mugambe Kiwanuka
2nd Vice Chairman: Patrick Kiwanuka Bukenya
General Secretary: Bablo Ali
Asst Gen Secretary: Isaac Kigongo Bukenya
Treasurer: Hajji Abdul Mawejje
Assistant Treasurer: Hajji Jumba
Organising Secretary: Sam Senyondo
Publicity Secretary: Andy Kaweesa
Head Coach: John Dibya
Asst Coach: James Lukwago
Team Manager: Hajji Abdul Kasujja
Asst Team Manager: Hajji Elias Serunjogi
Committee members Vincent Bbale Mugera, Kassim Buyondo, Haruna Njuki, Kassim Mpanga, Charles Nagwere and Teddy Namusoke, among others.
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