[2] During his father's reign as sultan Uto led a force of 500 men sent as assistance to the Spaniards against Talayan rebels in 1864.

This included the four guides who escorted the combined force headed by Colonel La Hoz, Governor of Cotabato.

[3][4][5] It was during this battle that he lost his eye, earning himself the title "one-eyed man", but he became a recognized leader in Buayan as a result.

[8] In the same year he stated in a letter to the Governor of Mindanao, Colonel Carraga, that he has a large contingent to accompany him, which included at least 18 datus and 600 men.

[3] In turn, the Spanish attacked Bakat, Buayan's major stronghold (cota or kuta), and occupied it.

[3] The leaders of the Pulangi River Basin gravitated towards Uto's leadership, and this enabled them to keep the Spanish at bay.

[14] While keeping his administration small, mainly composed of a council, it was his personality which built a coalition with the neighboring leaders.

The new Governor-General of the Philippines, José Malcampo, 3rd Marquis of San Rafael, renewed the military campaigns in Mindanao.

The following year, the Spanish were able to convince the sultans of Cotabato and Tumbao to make an alliance against Buayan.

[3] Due to this success, Malcampo was granted the victory titles of Count of Jolo and Viscount of Mindanao.

[16] Therefore in 1885 the succeeding Governor-General, Emilio Terrero y Perinat, launched yet another military offensive in Mindanao, personally leading the Spanish forces.

In 1886, two Spanish corps under General Serina razed Bakat to make way for the construction of a new fort and a railway from Iligan to Lake Lanao.

The project was abandoned as Uto's forces harassed the Spaniards, gathering the metal used in construction to produce krises.