A Ugandan MP sparked controversy on Wednesday by pulling out a bottle of desert locusts in parliament to protest what he claims is the slow response by the government to curb the invasion of the pests in the country.

David Obala, a representative of Ngora County in eastern Uganda, carried the bottle as proof that the insects had invaded his constituency, according to a video shared online by a local media house, Daily Monitor.

Obala argued that not enough has been done to stop the spread of the invasion to other areas of the country despite the government allocating an estimated UGX15 billion ($4 million).

"Allow me, first of all, Madam Speaker, to show the whole world that the locusts exist, and, now, I just want to be informed whether I can lay them on the table," Obala said.

Two MPs protested Obala's move with one claiming that his actions could aid the spread of the insects in the country's central region. Another one then demanded that Obala hand over the insects to the sergeant-at-arms for disposal, a request which the speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, granted.

Uganda's Minister for Agriculture Bright Rwamirama on Tuesday said that the locusts, which entered the country on February 7, have not caused significant damage to vegetation cover despite an imminent threat to food security.

Rwamirama added that the locusts had been sighted in at least seven districts by then. Ugandan authorities have rushed pesticides to affected areas and has mobilised thousands of troops.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, a very small swarm of locusts eat as much food in one day as about 35,000 people.

Uganda last experienced a major locust invasion 70 years ago, with immense damage on crops, according to the Agriculture ministry.

Source(s): BBC, Daily Monitor, Uganda Media Center