Uganda’s second most prominent police officer was shot and killed in his car yesterday along with driver and a bodyguard as he left his home in Kampala, police said.

Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Kaweesi served as the Force’s spokesman and was one of the country’s most high-profile officers.

"He was shot dead this morning as he was leaving his home coming to work,” Inspector General Kale Kayihura told AFP.

"Kaweesi had two police officers guarding him who were also killed. The motive is yet to be established,” he added.

A crowd of residents gathered at the scene where the officers’ dead bodies slumped inside a black vehicle, blood pooling under shattered glass alongside the car. The bodies were later taken to the city mortuary.

A local resident described seeing four men on two motorcycles attack the car the police officers were travelling in at around 9:30am EAT as they left for work.

"Two motorbike drivers and two men with guns fired at the car. They shot very rapidly with guns that looked like AK47s,” said Mohammad, a motorcycle taxi driver who lives and works in the area.

"The motorbikes came from behind as the car was leaving Kaweesi’s house. The driver tried to accelerate but they drove past the car and shot into it,” said the 30-year old who declined to give his surname.

"The motorbikes were new and the shooters looked professional. They weren’t wearing masks but I didn’t see their faces because I took cover.”

‘Shower of bullets’

Local mayor Charles Sserunjogi said he heard "a shower of bullets from my house nearby”. He said Kaweesi had lived in the neighbourhood of Kulambiro for about 10 years.

"I don’t believe what I’m seeing right now. I knew Kaweesi well and met with him about a week and a half ago to discuss tarmacking the road he was shot on.” Agencies