Two decades earlier, several battles had been fought over the possession of the island, primarily between Ottoman forces (joined by Albanians) and Montenegrins.

[2] In 1844, Albanian highlanders from Shkodër sailed with 4 ships to the island of Vranjina to build barracks in order to resist Montenegrin forces.

[7] At the head of a small group, Oso Kuka arrived on the battlefield where 8,000 Montenegrin soldiers had been besieging the fort of Vranjina.

[6] His bravery made it possible for Vranina to stay under Albanian control until 1879, when it was ceded to Montenegro by the Congress of Berlin.

"[8] Ndre Zadeja also wrote a melodrama titled Oso Kuka, based on his life.