Paul Mucureezi could have opened the score in the 28th minute but he sent his effort over the bar after he had been put through on goal by Disan Galiwango.
A minute after the half-hour mark, Murushid Juuko was booked after he exchanged words with referee Ssali Mashoodi.
Mucureezi was unlucky in the 35th minute when his second chance went narrowly wide after receiving a cross from Karim Watambala.
Watambala was the culprit in the 41st minute when he wasted another chance after Bbosi Byarughanga produced a good cross for him.
Eric Kambale s 42nd-minute header - from a cross by Godfrey Lwesibwa - went over the bar as Express mounted more attacks against the hosts.
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Erick Kambale came close to opening the scores for the visitors in the 20th minute when he created enough space to connect well to a corner delivered by Godfrey Lwesibawa but he placed the ball agonizingly past the near post on the left.
Express goalkeeper Mathias Muwanga was called into action ten minutes later when his finger-tip save denied Villa’s Ronald Ssekiganda and at the opposite end, Saidi Kenyi also came through for the hosts with a similar save to deny Charles Musiige five minutes to the break.
After the resumption, Express knew they had to keep piling more pressure on their opponents, especially on the flanks, and winger Martin Kizza tried on several occasions to penetrate the Villa defence but fell short.