Kampala, March 31 (IANS): A lead prosecutor in the trial of the Uganda terror suspects responsible for the July 2010 bombings was shot dead in the capital Kampala.

Joan Kagezi was shot dead by men on a motorcycle while she was driving home from work late on Monday, according to the military.

Kagezi was the lead prosecutor in the trial of terror suspects responsible for the July 2010 bombings in Kampala that left close to 80 people dead and dozens injured.

"It is so disheartening that she has been shot dead. She has been instrumental in the prosecution of the terror suspects," Paddy Ankunda, an army spokesperson, told Xinhua news agency over telephone.

"At the moment we cannot say it is a terrorism act or not. We cannot rule out terrorism," he added.

Somali militant group Al Shabaab claimed responsibility of the attack, saying they were avenging Uganda's deployment of peace keeping troops in Somalia.

Joan Kagezi last week was in court when the terror suspects appeared for trial.

Kagezi's murder comes after police warned last week of a possible terror attack by the Al Shabaab. Police had called on the public to be vigilant.